New Delhi, 1 October (IANS) former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has revealed that after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, he was tilted towards retaliation against Pakistan, but was asked to depend on diplomatic efforts.
He revealed the details of the events that occur after the Mumbai terror attacks in an interview with the ABP News Channel, recalled the decision -making process within the then government and shaped India’s response to India’s reaction to international diplomatic pressure, especially from the US, affected and the situation.
Chidambaram recalled that he took over as Home Minister a day after the attacks on 30 November 2008 and soon after Shivraj Patil’s resignation.
“I became the Home Minister a day after the attack.
The veteran Congress leader revealed that he was reluctant to leave the Finance Ministry. “I told him that I am happy to fulfill my term as Finance Minister. I have presented five budgets, and the elections were going to be held in April 2009. But I was told whether, and the PM informed me that the party had to move forward with the verdict. I told them that I will move forward, but reluctantly,” he said.
During the interview, he accepted India’s lack of familiarity with the security infrastructure at that time. He said, “I went to the space,” he was unaware of the intelligence wealth available in Pakistan and neighboring areas.
The former Union Home Minister also admitted that the idea of vengeance had crossed his mind. “This has crossed my mind that we should do some vengeance work. I discussed this with the Prime Minister and others.
Chidambaram said that the decision to use restraint came under significant global pressure. He said, “This conclusion had reached amidst the pressure of the world that was landing on Delhi, to tell us not to start the war,” he said.
He mentioned that then US State Secretary Kondoliza Rice visited Delhi to meet and Prime Minister, urged India not to retaliate militatically.
On comparing with ‘Operation Sindoor’, he commented, “You are comparing 2008 with 2025, 17 years, there have been many things, so, do not compare 2008 with 2025. The status of our defense forces and intelligence assets of intelligence forces was very different in 2008, which I had discovered for weeks and months after my appointment, so we had to prepare for our assets and prepare.”
He dismissed the allegation that Manmohan Singh -led government was “soft on terror”.
The former minister said, “We did not retaliate … I should have been my personal view, but I do not decide on my personal view. I take the strength and weaknesses of the government.”
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DPB/