NEW DELHI – Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has ignited a major political storm by questioning the evidence linking Pakistan to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In an interview with the news agency IANS, Aiyar claimed that none of the 33 countries visited by an all-party delegation from India had blamed Pakistan for the incident.
The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has accused Aiyar of echoing Pakistani propaganda and undermining India’s national security efforts.
Aiyar’s Statement to IANS
According to reports, Aiyar stated that India has not been able to provide convincing evidence to the international community that a specific Pakistani agency was behind the attack. He highlighted the fact that neither the United Nations nor the United States has held Pakistan responsible.
“None of the 33 countries that a delegation from India visited blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam terror attack,” Aiyar reportedly told IANS. “Neither the UN nor the United States has held Pakistan responsible. We are the only ones saying that Pakistan is behind it, but no one is willing to believe us. We haven’t been able to present any evidence that convinces people about which Pakistani agency carried out this act.”
Aiyar’s comments also touched upon the need for dialogue with Pakistan, drawing a parallel with India’s diplomatic engagement with China despite past military tensions.
Political Fallout and Reactions.
Mani Shankar Aiyar’s statement has triggered a significant backlash from the BJP. Party leaders have swiftly condemned his comments, calling them “pro-Pakistan” and an attempt to demoralize the armed forces.
- BJP’s Response: A BJP spokesperson accused the Congress of consistently taking a stance that is “soft on terrorism” and against the country’s interests. “This is not the first time a Congress leader has sided with Pakistan,” the spokesperson said, adding that Aiyar’s remarks were a clear example of the party’s “appeasement politics.”
- Congress’s Position: While the Congress party has not issued an official statement on the matter, some party members have reportedly distanced themselves from Aiyar’s views, stating that his comments are his personal opinion and do not reflect the party’s official position.
The controversy comes at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan remain high following the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent ‘Operation Mahadev’ by the Indian Army. The ‘Janaza-e-Ghaib’ for Tahir Habib in PoK has further provided the Indian government with what it sees as irrefutable evidence of Pakistan’s direct role in cross-border terrorism.
Media Source
The core of this news report is based on an interview given by Mani Shankar Aiyar to the news agency IANS (Indo-Asian News Service). The content of the interview has been widely reported by various Indian and international media outlets, including prominent newspapers and news channels.
