Chidambaram casts doubts on BJP’s anti-Pakistan propaganda
Haroon Abbas
The recent remarks by former Indian Home Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram have ignited a fierce controversy, delivering a sharp rebuke to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) narrative of hastily blaming Pakistan for every terrorist attack without concrete evidence. During a parliamentary address, Chidambaram raised critical questions about the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, predominantly tourists. He asked: “Has the government identified the attackers? Where did they come from? If we have no evidence, how can we assume they came from Pakistan? They could be locals!” These questions not only cast doubt on the transparency of the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) probe but also challenge the foundation of the BJP’s anti-Pakistan propaganda. Chidambaram’s statements have stirred a political storm, with BJP leaders, particularly IT cell chief Amit Malviya, labeling them as tantamount to giving Pakistan a “clean chit.”
On April 22, 2025, a terrorist attack struck Bisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination seven kilometers from Pahalgam in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir. The assault killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, alongside a Christian tourist and a local pony driver, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who reportedly attempted to save tourists. The attackers, five armed militants, used M4 carbines and AK-47 rifles, equipped with advanced communication devices and camera-mounted helmets. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility but later disavowed it, alleging it was a “conspiracy to defame Kashmir’s resistance.” The NIA launched an investigation, asserting that the attackers were Pakistani nationals linked to LeT, but promised to reveal their identities “at the appropriate time.”
On July 28, 2025, three terrorists were killed in a confrontation in Dachigam area of Srinagar under Operation Mahadev, with security sources identifying one as Suleman Shah, alias Hashim Musa or Musa Fauji
Chidambaram dismissed the NIA’s investigation as “incomplete and unprofessional,” highlighting the government’s failure to provide concrete evidence. He questioned why, if Shah was indeed the mastermind, his identity and death were not publicly substantiated.
The BJP has consistently maintained that the Pahalgam attack was orchestrated by Pakistani terrorists, describing it as a joint conspiracy by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and LeT. Chidambaram countered this narrative, arguing that accusing Pakistan without robust evidence is premature and politically motivated. He pointed out that past incidents, such as the Pathankot (2016) and Uri (2016) attacks, lacked proven direct Pakistani involvement, as acknowledged by former Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in 2019. Chidambaram further warned that ignoring the possibility of local terrorism is dangerous, as it may allow the real culprits to escape. He also raised the prospect of the attack being a “false flag operation,” a controversial statement that the BJP interpreted as support for Pakistan. Amit Malviya responded: “Every time our forces confront Pakistan-backed terrorism, Congress leaders speak as if they were advocates for Islamabad.”
In response to the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor as a military and diplomatic countermeasure against Pakistan, which the BJP hailed as a success. Yet, Chidambaram questioned the operation’s transparency, asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent and why its outcomes were not debated in Parliament. He also inquired whether the ceasefire was a result of pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, as some reports claimed, or a unilateral Indian achievement. Other Congress leaders, such as Gaurav Gogoi, noted that the government failed to apprehend the five attackers even 100 days after the incident, signaling a failure of security forces.
Chidambaram’s “false flag” remark sparked fresh controversy. He argued that without solid evidence of Pakistan’s involvement, these accusations were being made for political gain. Some users on X supported this view, with @goneneutral suggesting the attack might have been an attempt by Prime Minister Modi to leverage political advantage before the Bihar elections, though it backfired. However, such opinions on X remain unverified and should be approached cautiously. The NIA arrested two locals, Parvez Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad, for allegedly aiding the attackers, but Chidambaram noted that these arrests provided no clear insight into the attackers’ identities or motives.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi initially assured full support to the government in combating terrorism post-attack. However, they are now questioning the government’s failures. The Congress has demanded an all-party meeting to discuss Kashmir’s security strategy comprehensively, describing the attack as an assault on national integrity and emphasizing that it should not be exploited for political purposes. Contrary to BJP claims, the NIA has yet to provide the attackers’ names or clear evidence of their Pakistani nationality. While Suleman Shah’s killing is touted as a major achievement, ambiguity surrounds his identity and role. Chidambaram’s questions have put the BJP on the defensive, especially as Operation Sindoor was discussed in Parliament. Moreover, groups linked to the BJP, such as Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have faced accusations of inciting hate speech and anti-Muslim violence post-attack, further weakening the party’s position. As Chidambaram stated: “Concealing the truth not only lets the real culprits escape but also damages the nation’s reputation.” Until the NIA presents compelling evidence, the BJP’s anti-Pakistan narrative will be seen as a mere political tactic, and the true facts of the Pahalgam attack will remain shrouded in mystery.
