“India will continue to face a serious jihadi threat from Pakistan-based terrorist groups, and neither Indian nor US policy is likely to reduce that threat in the near future,” said Angel Rabasa, lead author of the study and a senior political scientist with RAND Corporation, a non-profit research organisation.

“Other extremist groups in Pakistan will likely find inspiration in the Mumbai attacks, and we can expect more attacks with high body counts and symbolic targets. The Mumbai terrorist attacks suggest the possibility of a rise of a strategic terrorist culture,” the study said.

The RAND study identifies the operational and tactical features of the attack, evaluates the response of Indian security forces, and analyses the implications for India, Pakistan and the United States.

The report acknowledged both India and Pakistan had nuclear weapons, making any military action a “dangerous course”, but warned if India did not respond, that “would signal a lack of Indian resolve or capability”.