Chidambaram Reveals US Pressure Prevented Retaliation After 26/11; BJP Calls It ‘Too Little, Too Late’
Former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has revealed that the UPA government refrained from retaliating against Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks due to intense international pressure and the stance of the Ministry of External Affairs. Chidambaram admitted that “retribution crossed my mind,” but the government ultimately decided against military action.
Chidambaram’s Remarks
In an interview, Chidambaram, who assumed charge of the Home Ministry shortly after the attacks that killed 175 people, said:
“The whole world descended upon Delhi to tell us ‘don’t start a war’. Condoleezza Rice, then US Secretary of State, flew in two or three days after I took over, to meet me and the Prime Minister, urging restraint. I said this is a decision the government will take. Without disclosing any official secret, it did cross my mind that we should do some act of retribution.”
He added that he discussed the matter with the Prime Minister and other key officials, but the decision, influenced largely by the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian Foreign Service, was not to physically retaliate.
Background: 26/11 Attacks
On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistani terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out coordinated attacks across Mumbai, targeting the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Oberoi Trident, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, and Nariman House. Ajmal Kasab, the only captured terrorist, was executed in 2012.
BJP Reacts
Chidambaram’s admission drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said Chidambaram had confirmed the attacks were “mishandled due to pressure from foreign powers.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala claimed Chidambaram initially wanted military action against Pakistan but was overruled by senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and then PM Manmohan Singh, under US influence.
Poonawala also alleged the Congress gave Pakistan a “clean chit” for the Mumbai attacks and the 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings, promoted a “Hindu terror” narrative, and granted Pakistan Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status despite repeated terror incidents.
The BJP further accused the UPA government of undermining India’s military stance against Islamabad and questioned the timing and accountability of the Congress-led administration’s decisions.
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