‘No Evidence:’ Ex-Indian Minister Challenges Modi Govt’s Claims Linking Pakistan to Pahalgam Attack
In a rare political exposé, India’s former interior minister P. Chidambaram has directly challenged the Modi-led BJP government over its unsubstantiated allegations against Pakistan in the Pahalgam attack, stating that there is no evidence found linking Pakistan to the incident.
Chidambaram, speaking to a local Indian news outlet, criticized the lack of credible proof, flawed investigation, and political opportunism surrounding the April 22 attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which left several security personnel dead and sparked tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
“Where are the terrorist attackers? Why have you not apprehended them or even identified them?”
Questions Raised on NIA’s Credibility and Investigation Gaps
The former minister did not stop at discrediting the Pakistan narrative but also took aim at India’s premier counter-terror agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), questioning its failure to trace the perpetrators, their origin, or any credible motive.
Chidambaram openly suggested that the attackers could be homegrown militants, adding that the Indian government has “neither apprehended nor even named” the suspects.
He also cast doubt over reports that a few locals were arrested for allegedly providing shelter to the terrorists, emphasizing that no further updates or judicial proceedings were shared with the public.
“Why do you assume the terrorists came from Pakistan? There’s absolutely no evidence,” he added, accusing the BJP government of engaging in blame-shifting and political theatre.
Operation Sindoor, Cover-ups, and Political Spin
In a pointed remark, Chidambaram acknowledged serious tactical errors during Operation Sindoor, the Indian counter-response after the attack. He claimed the operation’s failure had been intentionally hidden from the public, either due to gross incompetence or deliberate political strategy.
The Congress leader accused the Modi government of manipulating national tragedies to divert attention from its internal policy failures and criticized the government for “narcissism and non-transparency.”
BJP Hits Back: “Sounds Like Pakistan’s Lawyer”
Reacting to Chidambaram’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya lashed out, accusing him of siding with Pakistan.
“Chidambaram sounds more like Islamabad’s defence lawyer than a responsible Indian opposition leader,” said Malviya, further alleging that the Congress party had once again handed a “clean chit” to Pakistan.
Malviya defended the BJP’s claims by citing recurring incidents of cross-border infiltration and terror attacks, insisting these could not occur without support from across the border.
Pakistan Calls for Transparent Probe – India Rejects
While India has consistently pointed fingers at Pakistan, Islamabad has strongly denied any involvement, offering to conduct a transparent investigation under international supervision — a proposal New Delhi has repeatedly ignored.
Pakistan also highlighted that India refused to allow international diplomats or observers to visit the site of the Pahalgam attack or Indian-occupied Kashmir in general, further fuelling suspicions over New Delhi’s narrative.
“If India truly had evidence, why avoid a neutral investigation?” asked a Pakistani official in response to the BJP’s claims.
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Context of the April 22 Pahalgam Attack
The April 22 terrorist incident occurred in Pahalgam, a tourist-heavy region of Indian-administered Kashmir, and quickly became the center of Indo-Pak media and diplomatic crossfire. India claimed the attackers had Pakistani links, while Pakistan rejected the blame, labelling it as a “diversionary tactic” by the Modi regime to target Muslims and Kashmiris domestically, especially in an election year.
Human rights groups have also demanded that India allow third-party monitoring of such incidents in Kashmir, citing historical patterns of media blackout, false flag operations, and lack of transparency in the conflict zone.
Final Thoughts
As political fault lines deepen in India, Chidambaram’s statement reveals a growing internal dissent against the Modi government’s Kashmir policy and its alleged misuse of terror narratives to stoke nationalist sentiment. With regional tensions already high, this fresh political confrontation raises further doubts about New Delhi’s handling of sensitive security matters and its relationship with truth.
Whether the BJP’s claims will hold under scrutiny or unravel further remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the world is watching.
