NEW DELHI – Former Indian Home Minister and Congress veteran P. Chidambaram has questioned the official narrative around the Pahalgam terror attack, suggesting that the attackers may not have come from Pakistan, as widely claimed, and demanded answers from the Indian government about its handling of the tragedy.
In a recent interview, Chidambaram criticized the Modi government’s opaque approach, alleging it was concealing tactical mistakes and actual losses incurred during Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the deadly assault that left 26 dead.
“Why hasn’t the government identified or apprehended the attackers? Why are only junior officers giving fragmented updates, while the Prime Minister and defence leadership stay silent?” Chidambaram asked.
He pointed out that instead of clear updates, statements were scattered across officials in Singapore, Indonesia, and Mumbai, and that no comprehensive briefing had been issued by India’s top leadership.
Chidambaram also questioned the NIA’s silence. “Why do you automatically assume the attackers were Pakistani? There’s no proof. They may be homegrown terrorists,” he said.
The April 22 Pahalgam attack, which occurred in IIOJK, triggered a sharp military escalation between India and Pakistan. Islamabad retaliated with Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, reportedly destroying Indian aircraft and drones, before both nations agreed to a US-mediated ceasefire on May 10.
While Pakistan praised Donald Trump’s role in brokering peace and even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize, India has dismissed such claims.
Chidambaram’s remarks have sparked debate within India’s political and security circles, with growing calls for the Modi government to come clean about what transpired before, during, and after the Pahalgam incident.