Mumbai, which witnessed its worst-ever terror strikes that killed nearly 200 people, will emerge ever-stronger after the attacks aimed at crippling the country's economic rise, the United States-India Business Council has said.

"These attacks clearly intended to stir maximum terror -- among foreigners and Indians alike.

"The attacks hoped to cripple India's economic rise by destroying investor confidence. . . The main motive was even more pernicious: to hit at India's unity," the business advocacy group said.

"If the terrorists' aim was to cripple India's economic rise, the terrorists should have known they would fail.

Just as New York recovered after 9/11, Madrid from its train bombings and London from the assault on its Underground, Mumbai will emerge from this outrage ever-stronger," it said.

"As businesses committed to India and its people -- as a fellow-democracy committed to freedom and justice, we must stand with India and resist these provocations as never before," the USIBC said.

". . . As for the terrorists' desire to destroy India's unity, we must remain vigilant and united -- united in our love for one another, united in our support for our fellow man, and united in our determination to excise the cause of violent extremism," it added.

"USIBC remains committed to the idea that a deeper US-India strategic partnership will enable us to better fight this common enemy: terror," the organisation said.

The business group praised the bravery of Taj and Oberoi staffs, the police, the fire brigades, the commandos, and the people of Mumbai and said it inspired them.