If Trump Can Act in Venezuela, Modi Should Act in Pakistan: Owaisi

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi delivered a fiery speech recalling the horrors of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring the perpetrators of the carnage to India, drawing parallels with recent US military actions abroad.

Referring to reports of a US operation in Venezuela, Owaisi said that if Washington could launch cross-border strikes and detain a foreign head of state, India too should act decisively against those responsible for India’s worst terror attack.

“If the US President can abduct Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro from his own country, then you, Modiji, can also go into Pakistan and bring back the masterminds of the 26/11 attacks,” Owaisi said while addressing a gathering.

The AIMIM chief also cited Saudi Arabia’s military actions against separatist camps in Yemen to argue that nations do not hesitate to act when their security is at stake. “Why should India hold back when the conspirators who destroyed Mumbai are known and living freely across the border?” he asked.

Owaisi specifically named Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba, accusing them of orchestrating the attacks that paralysed Mumbai for three days in November 2008.

“We are telling you, Modiji, go into Pakistan and bring back those cruel people who planned the bloodshed in Mumbai,” he said, adding that justice for the victims remained incomplete even after more than a decade.

The 26/11 attacks, carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba, left at least 170 people dead and over 300 injured as gunmen targeted multiple locations across Mumbai between November 26 and 29, 2008. The assault remains one of the deadliest terror strikes in India’s history.

The issue has long been a political flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the Congress, which was in power when the attacks took place. The BJP has repeatedly accused the Congress-led UPA government of responding weakly to Pakistan after the carnage.

In September 2025, former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram reignited the debate by stating that India had seriously considered retaliatory action against Pakistan in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. However, he said, the Manmohan Singh-led government ultimately decided against military action following advice from the foreign ministry and diplomatic circles, citing international pressure.

According to Chidambaram, discussions on retaliation took place even as the attacks were unfolding, but the government was counselled that a physical response could have wider geopolitical consequences.

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