>>to undermine Pakistan as much as anything. Isn’t that clear?
yeah, by attacking Bombay. Clear as mud.
Gee, I overestimated the ability to analyze these events.
Al Queda wants no pressure from Pakistan in the NW territories hence stirring up trouble between India and Pakisan serves its interests quite well. Anything short of an all out nuclear attack from India works to the advantage of the terrorists. If Pakistan has to move ir feeks it has to move forces to the East then the War on Terror in Afganistan suffers thereby.
After the initial Indian responses to this ratcheting up pressure the Paks spoke of moving 100,000 troops out of the NW.
Al Queda does not make simple single goaled attacks. They almost always are intended for a multiple impact. Here they 1) spread terror in India, 2) targeted citizens of those nations fighting them, 3) caused great financial losses to India with an attack on its financial center, 4) inflammed Pakisani-Indian relations, 5) opened a new road of attack. It was a brilliantly destructive move.