A detailed Brookings Institution analysis has reignited global criticism of Pakistan, asserting that the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks were enabled not just by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) but also by powerful elements within Pakistan’s own security establishment. The report argues that the massacre, which killed 166 people, was not the work of an isolated militant group but the result of years of state-sponsored support. According to the assessment by counterterror expert Bruce Riedel, LeT operated under the patronage of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The report states that ISI maintained close operational ties with LeT and that the group’s capacity to carry out such a complex and coordinated assault would have been impossible without state involvement.

The analysis highlights Ajmal Kasab’s confession, where he stated he was trained in LeT camps inside Pakistan and had been guided by Pakistani handlers. Additional testimonies from David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana both convicted in the United States further exposed the deep role of Pakistani intelligence, as both men admitted they assisted in planning and reconnaissance under direction from Pakistan-based operatives. The report also notes al Qaeda’s hidden role, stating that the organisation helped LeT select high-impact targets in Mumbai. This collaboration, according to the analysis, was designed to trigger a larger regional conflict and reflects the dangerous convergence of multiple extremist groups operating within Pakistan’s territory.

Despite international pressure in the years after the attack, Pakistan has failed to dismantle the LeT-ISI nexus. Hafiz Saeed, the founder of LeT, continues to exert influence in Pakistan, regularly appearing at public events and delivering provocative speeches. Brookings warns that as long as groups like LeT retain operational freedom, the possibility of another major terror attack remains high. The report describes LeT as a “ticking time bomb,” and criticises Pakistan for running a “double game” publicly condemning terrorism while covertly protecting and supporting militants for strategic objectives. This duplicity, it argues, undermines regional stability and global counterterrorism efforts.

The Brookings analysis concludes that Pakistan’s failure to confront extremist organisations and restrain its intelligence agencies leaves South Asia dangerously exposed. Without decisive action, the legacy of the Mumbai attacks will continue to cast a long shadow over the region’s security and Pakistan’s credibility on the world stage.