Former Home Minister P. Chidambaram revealed that after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, India did not retaliate against Pakistan due to international pressure, especially from the United States. He admitted that there was a desire for revenge, but the government chose a diplomatic path.
New Delhi: The country can never forget the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Hundreds of lives were lost in this attack, and the whole of India came under the shadow of terror. Now, senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has unveiled a major secret related to this incident. He stated that at that time, India did not retaliate against Pakistan because the government was under immense international pressure.
Chidambaram clarified that the idea of revenge did cross his mind, but the then UPA government, acting on the advice of the Ministry of External Affairs, refused to take direct action. Following this revelation, a debate has once again erupted in political circles.
Situation Immediately After Becoming Home Minister
P. Chidambaram stated in an interview that he became Home Minister on November 30, 2008, precisely when the last terrorist was neutralized. He mentioned that the Prime Minister had called him and entrusted him with the responsibility of the Home Ministry, but he was not mentally prepared for it.
He said that at that time, there was widespread anger and outrage across the country. People were demanding that Pakistan be taught a lesson. According to him, after becoming Home Minister, the same question arose in his mind: why not retaliate against Pakistan? However, the government decided not to pursue this path.
Why No Action Was Taken Against Pakistan
Chidambaram explained that he did not have complete information regarding the preparedness of the security forces and intelligence agencies. Nor did he have detailed knowledge about the networks or resources present within Pakistan.
He stated that during discussions with the Prime Minister and senior officials, it was concluded that immediate military action could further escalate the situation. Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) were emphasizing that India should adopt a diplomatic approach rather than direct action.
US Pressure and Condoleezza Rice's Role
Chidambaram also admitted that at that time, the United States had pressured India not to take action. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in India immediately after the attacks and met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram.
According to him, Condoleezza Rice had clearly stated that India should not retaliate directly. The US did not want a war-like situation to emerge in South Asia. Due to this American pressure, India stepped back from military action and opted for a diplomatic approach.
Was There Preparation for an Attack on Pakistan?
Chidambaram acknowledged that the idea of taking revenge was present in his mind, and it had been discussed within the government. However, after considering all aspects, it was decided that it would be better to gather evidence and expose Pakistan on international forums rather than taking direct action against it.
The UPA government then formulated a strategy to unite the world against terrorism and highlight Pakistan's role. However, this decision still raises many questions about whether India should have given a ber response at that time.
BJP's Counter-Attack
Following Chidambaram's statement, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a scathing attack on Congress. BJP leaders stated that this merely confirms what the country already knew – that the Congress government was under pressure from foreign powers.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that Chidambaram's admission is proof that the UPA government failed to make decisive decisions at that time. He added that if Pakistan had been taught a lesson then, it would not have dared to spread terror repeatedly.
Comparison Between Modi and Manmohan Singh
The BJP questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have succumbed to similar pressure. The BJP claims that the Modi government has always adopted a tough stance in responding to terrorists, citing the 2016 surgical strike and the 2019 airstrike as examples.
