Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a powerful address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, revealing critical details surrounding India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor. Shah disclosed that after India launched retaliatory airstrikes targeting Pakistani airbases, Pakistan had no choice but to request a ceasefire. The call came on May 10 at approximately 5 PM, when Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to his Indian counterpart.
“They had no other option,” Shah stated emphatically. He underscored that India’s firm military action left Pakistan cornered, forcing them to initiate the ceasefire. His statement refuted claims made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously suggested that a ceasefire was mediated as part of a trade deal. Shah clarified there was no external mediation involved.
During the debate on Operation Sindoor, Shah faced several interruptions from the Opposition, particularly from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. In response, Shah shot back, “Do you speak with Pakistan? Don’t be upset by the religion of the terrorists.”
Opposition Response and Shah’s Sharp Retorts
He criticized the Opposition for not expressing satisfaction over the elimination of terrorists. “I expected applause across party lines. Instead, they look upset,” Shah said. He accused the Opposition of playing politics even when national security was at stake.
Shah also took on Congress leader and former Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who questioned the origin of the terrorists. “What proof does he want? We found Pakistan-made chocolates, voter IDs, and weapons. Two of the terrorists even had Pakistani voter numbers. Isn’t that enough proof?”
He declared that India had presented undeniable evidence of Pakistan’s direct involvement in the Pahalgam attack. “In front of the entire world, a former Indian Home Minister is giving Pakistan a clean chit. This is unacceptable,” Shah thundered.
Targeting Congress and Historical Decisions
In a sharp political attack, Shah held the Congress party and its leadership responsible for the ongoing issue of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Citing historical decisions, he declared, “Pakistan is Congress’s mistake.” Shah blamed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the 1949 ceasefire agreement during the first Indo-Pak war, which allowed Pakistan to retain control over parts of Kashmir.
“If PoK exists today, it is due to Nehru’s ceasefire. The blame lies with him,” Shah reiterated. He further referenced Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s opposition to Nehru’s moves, particularly the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which granted Pakistan access to 80% of the river waters. According to Shah, this significantly weakened India’s strategic hold.
Shah didn’t stop there. He brought up the 1971 war victory, where India held over 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war, nearly 42% of their army. Despite such leverage, Congress failed to reclaim PoK, he noted. Additionally, Shah asserted that India lost its chance at a permanent United Nations Security Council seat due to Nehru’s decisions.
Operation Mahadev and the Elimination of Pahalgam Attackers
Providing details on the execution of Operation Mahadev, Shah stated that the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police jointly eliminated the three terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack. These individuals — Suleman alias Faizal, Afghan, and Jibran — were all high-ranking operatives of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
“These three terrorists who killed our citizens in Baisaran Valley have now been neutralised,” Shah announced. He revealed that cartridges recovered from their rifles were a 100% match with those found at the Pahalgam terror site. The forensic analysis was conducted at the central FSL facility in Chandigarh, confirming their involvement in the April 22 attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had previously arrested individuals who provided shelter and support to these terrorists. Once the terrorists’ bodies were brought to Srinagar, the arrested suspects confirmed their identities.
A Defining Parliamentary Statement on National Security
Amit Shah’s speech in the Lok Sabha was not merely a status update on national security operations. It was a firm assertion of India’s military capability, political will, and clarity in tackling cross-border terrorism. By dismantling claims of foreign mediation and laying bare Pakistan’s involvement, Shah sent a clear message both to the domestic political establishment and the international community.
His historical critique of Congress-era policies, especially those involving PoK and foreign policy decisions, set the tone for what he described as the Modi government’s course correction on matters of national security. As the debate continues, Shah’s remarks are bound to reshape public discourse on both contemporary and legacy issues concerning India-Pakistan relations.
