For me, the Mumbai attacks coincided with American Thanksgiving. As I looked around our dinner table of 14 expatriates that Thursday night, my mind and heart were pulled back to India and the events taking place. Nearly everyone at the table was connected to India – families we had met during our five-year posting there, as well as one of my daughter’s dearest friends, Prati, a child of Mumbai herself. I gave my thanks for what India gave to us during our time there, and the safety of Prati’s father and extended family. As foreigners – now living in other countries – we remembered Mumbai’s singular personality and allure, and the warmth, potential, challenges and complexities of the country that we came to know.

It was hard – but not surprising – to learn that the police and commandos were hindered by outdated equipment and a lack of a crisis management plan. And, sadly, it was also no surprise to hear the finger-pointing begin, a blame game that brings India-Pak relations to yet another standstill, at best.

India – with all of its promise – must take another tack in the fight against terrorism. As it turns inward to assess homeland preparedness it must also offer an open hand to Pakistan’s government and civil society – a country on the edge of disaster – to forge a coalition against these hateful, destructive forces in the region.

These are not simple or easy tasks – far from it. But India can change how it reacts to such threats and be a force for positive change. In doing so, India will protect its people and help to make the world a safer place – and the world will owe Indians a great debt.

The Americans at our table gave thanks for our new President-Elect Obama, in part because he speaks about a combination of diplomacy, development and toughness against terrorism to battle such aggressors – a welcome change for us who feel that the last eight years of U.S. policies has made the world a more dangerous place.

India is capable of the same kind of change – and I hope its leaders and people will consider the potential of collaboration before retribution.

–Kristen Kelleher
This piece is personal opinion.