Former union home minister P Chidambaram has acknowledged that the UPA government chose not to retaliate against Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, citing international pressure --particularly from the US -- and the stance of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Chidambaram took over the charge as union home minister soon after the 26/11 attacks.
In an interview to ABP News, the former union home minister said: “The whole world descended upon Delhi to tell us ‘don’t start a war’.” He said that though retribution crossed his mind, the government decided to not take military action.
Recounting the reaction of the international community after the attacks which claimed over 160 lives, Chidambaram stated: “Condoleezza Rice, who was then US secretary of state, flew in two or three days after I took over, to meet me and the prime minister. And to say, ‘please don’t react’. I said this is a decision that the government will take. Without disclosing any official secret, it did cross my mind that we should do some act of retribution.”
Chidambaram, explaining the discussions within the government in the aftermath of the terror strike, said he discussed a possible retaliation with the prime minister and “other people who mattered”.
“The prime minister had discussed this even when the attack was going on… And the conclusion was, largely influenced by the Ministry of External Affairs, and the IFS, that we should not physically react to the situation,” he recalled.
BJP lashes out
Reacting to Chidambaram’s statements, union minister Pralhad Joshi wrote on X, “After 17 years, Chidambaram, former home minister admits what the nation knew — 26/11 was mishandled due to pressure from foreign powers. Too little, too late.”
BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla also reacted to the interview saying, “Who prevailed? Sonia Gandhi? Dr Manmohan Singh via SG? He alludes to how US Secy of State Condoleezza Rice insisted that India shouldn’t react! Why was UPA taking orders from her? Why did Sonia Gandhi prevail over HM?”
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