Chidambaram Questions Pakistan Link in Pahalgam Attack, BJP Reacts
Senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P. Chidambaram has questioned the government’s assertion that the terrorists behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack were from Pakistan. In a recent public statement, he asked what conclusive evidence had been presented and whether the attackers could have been locally radicalized instead.
Chidambaram also pressed for transparency from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), asking why the identities of the attackers remain undisclosed. He further questioned why details of casualties in Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the attack, have not been shared with the public.
BJP Accuses Congress of Undermining National Security
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted sharply, accusing Chidambaram and the Congress party of playing into the hands of India’s adversaries. BJP leaders claimed that Chidambaram’s statements effectively give Pakistan a clean chit and disregard credible intelligence inputs. The ruling party insisted that both technical and human intelligence confirmed cross-border links in the Pahalgam attack.
Pahalgam Attack and Operation Sindoor
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, most of them tourists. A terror group had claimed responsibility, and Indian intelligence officials believe the assailants were linked to Pakistan-based networks, although their names and organizational affiliations remain classified.
India launched Operation Sindoor in early May as a targeted military response. However, the government has not publicly disclosed how many terrorists were neutralized, citing operational secrecy. Chidambaram raised concerns over this lack of detail, asking whether facts were being withheld for political benefit.
Rising Tensions Ahead of Parliament Debate
With Parliament set to begin its debate on Operation Sindoor, political tensions have intensified. While the BJP emphasizes the need to protect sensitive security information, the Opposition continues to push for greater accountability, urging the government to provide factual clarity on both the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent military action.
