NEW DELHI: Former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has denied claims that the United States prevented India from taking military action against Pakistan following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, asserting that he was misquoted by the media.
In a post on social media platform X, Chidambaram stated, “In no part of the interview to Megha Prasad’s podcast did I say that ‘US stopped us from retaliating after the 26/11 attack.'” He criticized the media for “merrily attributing words” to him and acknowledged the risks involved in speaking to the media.
This clarification follows his earlier comments in which he expressed an inclination toward retaliatory action against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks but indicated that he was ultimately dissuaded from such measures. He disclosed that the decision-making process under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was significantly shaped by international diplomatic pressure, particularly from the United States.
“It did cross my mind that we should do some act of retribution. I discussed it with the Prime Minister and other key figures. The PM had likely considered this while the attack was ongoing,” Chidambaram said, adding that the conclusion was heavily influenced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), which advocated for diplomatic rather than military responses.
He highlighted that there was pressure from the global community urging India not to escalate the situation into a conflict. Specifically, he mentioned a visit from then U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who met with him and Prime Minister Singh, advising against military retaliation.
Chidambaram’s comments ignited controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Congress party of mishandling national security under foreign influence. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi remarked 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.”
