Chidambaram admits idea of retaliation: Manmohan Singh govt avoided retaliation against Pakistan due to pressure from US

2008 attacks, carried out by 10 terrorists over 60 hours, claimed 175 lives and targeted Mumbai’s streets, the Taj Hotel, CST railway station, Nariman House, and Cama Hospital.

On Tuesday in an interview, Chidambaram said, "There was pressure from the entire world. We were being persuaded not to go to war. The then US Secretary of State came to Delhi and said, ‘Please do not take action.’ Without revealing any official secrets, I admit that a feeling of revenge arose in my mind."

He added, he had discussed retaliatory options with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior officials, but the government ultimately refrained from military action.

Ajmal Kasab, one of the terrorists, was captured alive from Juhu Chowpatty on November 27, 2008. The trial began in January 2009, with the first 11,000-page chargesheet filed in February.

Kasab was found guilty in May 2010, sentenced to death, and his conviction was upheld by the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court. His mercy petition was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee, and he was hanged on November 21, 2012, in Yerwada Jail, Pune.

Tahawwur Rana, another mastermind of the attacks, was extradited from the United States to India in April 2025.

Rana had been arrested by the FBI in Chicago in 2009 for providing material support for the Mumbai and Copenhagen terror attacks and was sentenced to 14 years in prison based on testimony from David Headley.

Chidambaram credited the UPA government for initiating Rana’s extradition, noting that while the NDA government can take credit for its current efforts, the previous government had laid the groundwork.

Congress has also maintained that the process of bringing Rana to India began in 2009 under the UPA regime, and the NDA should not claim full credit.

BJP reaction

Pralhad Joshi Union Minister shared a clip of the interview on X, stating, "The former Home Minister has admitted that the country already knew the Mumbai attacks were mishandled due to foreign pressure."

Shahzad Poonawala BJP spokesperson added that Chidambaram initially hesitated to take over as Home Minister after the attacks, wanting military action against Pakistan, but other officials prevailed.