Pakistan Took Indian Delegation to a Hill Station Day Before 26/11

The Indian delegation was in Pakistan for home secretary-level peace talks when the 26 November 2008 attack happened.

Former Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta at a press briefing in Delhi on 18 August 2008. (Photo Courtesy: GoI Photo Division)

Former Indian Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and a delegation from his office were in Pakistan when the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack happened. The “composite delegation”, which was supposed to be in the Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, was however, at the hill station Murree on the day of the attack, reports Times Now.

The trip, which remained unreported and out of public domain, has raised questions against the Pakistan government.

There was no unscheduled element here. There was a proposition that we extend our stay by one day. Ostensively that would enable this meeting with the interior affairs minister to take place. And the place of stay for that particular night, they decided to take us to Murree. I would just leave it to that.

Madhukar Gupta, Former Home Secretary to <i>Times Now</i>

Former Home Minister P Chidambaram with former Home secretary Madhukar Gupta at a press briefing in New Delhi on 31 December 2008. (Photo Courtesy: GoI Photo Division)

Gupta, who was in Pakistan for a Home Secretary-level meeting with Pakistan, has said that he had requested a meeting with the interior minister who was out of station that day on 25 November 2008 – a day before the 26/11 attacks.

[After the Home Secretary-level meeting] I had also asked for a meeting with interior affairs minister. He was out of station and would be returning on the afternoon of 26 November. The [HS-level] meeting happened at around 4:30 in the afternoon and in the background of the joint press briefing, we were told that they had made arrangements at the Murree hill station for us. So we reached there at 8 or 9 pm.

Media reports have theories ranging from allegations that the delegation was “holidaying” in Murree to the visit being a conspiracy by the Pakistan government. Gupta himself speculates that the Pakistan government may have had a hand in it.

Nobody knew 26/11 would happen. It is speculation whether our stay was extended because they knew 26/11. We had no inkling. Duplicitous role of Pakistan is absolutely clear, its not the first time. I was in constant touch with people back in India, while I was in Pakistan on 26/11.

However, he has said that the important point is that the attack happened while Indian delegation was in Pakistan and not that they were in Murree. Gupta has also questioned the sudden reappearance of the information.

I was in touch with everyone when the disaster struck; what are we trying to prove going into speculation 8 years later? All kinds of things were said like the NSG arrived late. How could that have changed with my physical presence?&nbsp;

Gupta, giving Pakistan officials the benefit of the doubt, said that he was not sure if it was the civil government or the deep state which was involved in the conspiracy, of there was one, behind the Murree visit.

We did find it odd about Murree. We felt a little odd as well, why were they accommodating us in Murree? I do not know why reports say we were holidaying in Murree, we stayed few hours because the host country made arrangements.

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