India’s foreign minister called the Pakistani ambassador to the foreign ministry to deliver the Indian government’s demands in the wake of the Mumbai terror attack. “He was informed that the recent terrorist attack on Mumbai was carried out by elements from Pakistan,” Reuters reported, based on a foreign ministry statement. “Government expects that strong action would be taken against those elements, whosoever they may be, responsible for this outrage."

It is unclear if any individuals or organizations within Pakistan have been singled out. So far, unconfirmed reports indicate the Lashkar-e-Taiba conducted the attack with the backing of the notorious Dawood Ibrahim criminal enterprise as well as elements within Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence agency and the Pakistani Navy.

In the past, Pakistan has responded to Indian recriminations over terror attacks launched from Pakistani soil by making half-hearted gestures. Pakistani security forces would arrest Hafiz Saeed, the Lashkar-e-Taiba, and other usual suspects, only to quietly release them.

If the Pakistani government is to seriously deal with this problem, first it will need to dismantle the Lashkar-e-Taiba Muridke complex near Lahore and the forward headquarters in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Saeed and a host of other Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders operate openly in Pakistan. Have them arrested, and keep them in jail for good.

But the Lashkar-e-Taiba is a strategic asset to Pakistan’s military and the ISI. Like the Taliban, many see the Lashkar-e-Taiba as "patriots." Don’t expect the Lashkar-e-Taiba to go down without a fight from elements within the military and intelligence services. And for this reason, don’t expect it to happen any time soon.