Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday gave a strong reply in the Lok Sabha to Congress MP and former home minister P Chidambaram’s comments on how the government handled the Pahalgam terror attack and the operation that followed, named Sindoor.

Defending the actions taken by the Centre, Shah said there was direct evidence that those behind the attack had links to Pakistan.

 "We have evidence - two had Pakistani voter IDs, and even the chocolates they carried were of Pakistan make," he told Parliament.

In a firm tone, Shah questioned why Chidambaram was doubting Pakistan’s role in the incident.
 "Yesterday, they (Congress) were questioning us where the terrorists originated and who was behind it. Of course, it is our duty because we are in power. Yesterday, ex-Home Minister Chidambaram ji asked the question—what is the evidence that the terrorists have come from Pakistan? I want to ask him what benefit he will derive by saving Pakistan. When he utters these words, it means they are providing a clear chit to Pakistan." Shah stated in Parliament.

Chidambaram’s remarks had sparked debate after he raised concerns over the transparency of the government’s investigation.
 
"Where are the terrorist attackers? Why have you not arrested them? Why have you not even identified them? Suddenly, there comes a news report that we have arrested two or three individuals who provided shelter to them. Now, where did that happen?" he told a recent interview.

He added, "The Government doesn't want to tell us what the NIA has been up to all these weeks. Have they caught the terrorists? Where did they come from? I mean, for all we know, they might be 'homegrown' terrorists. Why are you presuming that they are from Pakistan? There's no evidence of that. They are keeping the losses under wraps, too."

Replying to each point raised, Shah presented a timeline based on the investigation. "NIA already arrested those who had provided them with shelter. Those who provided them with food were taken into detention. When the dead bodies of the terrorists arrived in Srinagar, they identified them as the three individuals who conducted the terror attack in Pahalgam. The FSL report of the cartridges used in the terror attack was already prepared. Yesterday, the weapons of the three terrorists were confiscated and compared with the FSL reports. Tests were conducted further in Chandigarh yesterday, after which it was established that these three were the ones who conducted the terror attack." he declared.

He also shared the identities of those involved. "All three terrorists - Suleman, Afghan and Jibran were gunned down in yesterday's operation. The individuals who used to provide food to them were arrested previously. After the bodies of these terrorists were brought to Srinagar, they were identified by those who were kept under detention by our agencies," he informed the Lok Sabha.