Only time will tell if Operation Sindoor was decisive: Chidambaram

“On December 16, 1971, there was a historic victory when General Niazi surrendered to General Jagjit Singh Aurora, along with 93,000 soldiers…That was a decisive victory. On the contrary, Operation Sindoor ended with a ceasefire,” he said.

Chidambaram said the military leadership was exemplary because it had been “candid and forthright”. Referring to a statement by CDS General Anil Chauhan on Operation Sindoor, he said, “I call them candid, forthright and transparent because he (the CDS) admitted tactical mistakes, re-strategising and admitted loss.”

However, Chidambaram said, “The government has so far not acknowledged the security failure and the intelligence failure” in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. “I took over as home minister the day after (2008) Mumbai terror attack ended on Dec 1. Within a few days, I flew to Bombay, and said I admit security failure, intelligence failure, and I regret the failure. Why can’t the Government say that?”

Chidambaram also spoke about “home- grown” terrorism.  “There are foreign terrorists infiltrated by Pak… but remember there are also India based terrorists…” he said, adding that sometimes they work together as well.