[IYAS9YAS]

I am assuming that 10 gunmen in an American city would be shut down in less than 2.5 days.

Quite the opposite; think D.C. Snipers.

Yes, the conditions were different, but I'd think that 10 gunmen would shut any American big city down for at least as long. The confusion alone would be good for that.

[Cronos]

Also, note that the city wasn’t shut. only a small part of it’s downtown area was affected and the action was confined to two 800 room hotels. Now, inside the hotels it’s a maze of rooms — ideal to set booby traps and to keep hostages. the Indian commandos had to walk through it gingerly as they didn’t know how many forces they were dealing with, how many hostages, how many booby traps, how many people the terrorists would be willing to free etc.

[TruthBeforeAll]

but I'd think that 10 gunmen would shut any American big city down for at least as long. The confusion alone would be good for that.

The sad thing is it wouldn't be the "gunmen" who shut the city down. It would be the local politicians and law enforcement.