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At least 17 people are dead and over 130 wounded in Mumbai, India yesterday after explosions ravaged three crowded areas frequented by the public. The coordinated attacks occurred at Dadar, Jhaveri Bazaar, and the Opera House district, during the evening rush hour, the busiest time of day. The Indian government is taking a cautious approach in assessing the situation, attributing the action to “hostile” groups but refusing to accuse an organization or single out a motive. No group has claimed responsibility. The nation’s media is speculating the terrorist attack is meant to put a chilling effect on upcoming India-Pakistan talks later this month. Reports from India reveal a public angry with their government and national security agencies for failing to anticipate and prevent the bombings. This is the worst attack in Mumbai and India overall since November 26th 2008 when 166 people were killed and scores injured in a coordinated terrorist attack led by armed men who arrived by boat. A militant Pakistani organization, Lashkar-e-Taiba, was held responsible for that assault, causing further strain between the two nations.

GUEST: Vijay Prashad, George and Martha Kellner Chair in South Asian History and Professor of International Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Prashad also writes regularly for Counterpunch.