New Delhi: In a sharp criticism of the BJP-led NDA government, veteran Congress leader and former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has raised serious questions about the Centre’s handling of the Pahalgam terror attack and the investigation that followed.

Speaking to The Quint in an interview, Chidambaram questioned whether any of the attackers involved in the April 22 assault in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, had been apprehended or identified.

"Where are the terrorist attackers? Why have you not apprehended them, or even identified them? A news item had emerged about the arrest of a few people who gave the attackers shelter. What happened to them?" he asked.

He also cast doubt on the claims made by investigating agencies that the attackers had crossed over from Pakistan, accusing the government of withholding crucial information.

"We get snatches and bits of information from different officers. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) goes to Singapore and makes a statement that gives you bits of information. The deputy army chief makes a statement in Mumbai. In Indonesia, a junior officer of the Navy makes a statement. But why is the PM or the defence minister, or the foreign minister not making a comprehensive statement?" he said.

His remarks come just ahead of a scheduled Parliament debate starting Monday, where the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor are expected to be key flashpoints between the ruling BJP and the Opposition.

He also alleged that the government is hiding "tactical mistakes" made during Operation Sindoor.

"The CDS hinted at that. What were those tactical mistakes? What re-strategising was done? Either the BJP government is incapable of answering these questions, or it is simply unwilling to," he stated.

He also questioned how the probe agencies concluded that the terrorists had crossed over from Pakistan.

"They are unwilling to disclose what the NIA has done all these weeks. Have they identified the terrorists, where they came from? For all we know, they could be homegrown terrorists. Why do you assume that they came from Pakistan? There's no evidence of that... They are also hiding the losses. I said it in a column that in a war, losses will occur on both sides. I understand that India would have suffered losses. Be upfront," he added.