On November 26, 2008, when Mumbai was under the attack, India’s top security officials were ‘holidaying’ in Murree, India Today reported.
The three MHA officials who were enjoying the holiday were Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, Additional Secretary (Border Management) Anwar Ahsan Ahmad, Joint Secretary (internal security) Diptivilasa, along with three other officials internal security.
Former Under Secretary in a ministry of Home Affairs RVS Mani said, “Those days, talks were taking place alternately in India and Pakistan. In 2006, it took place in Pakistan; in 2007, it took place in India at Le Meridian hotel in Delhi; while in 2008, it was to be held in Pakistan.
November 25 was decided for the talks, following which an approach paper was prepared and cleared. Our delegation left on November 24. I was in Lucknow on November 25 for some court case. I remember that when I returned on November 26, I came to know that their visit was extended by a day, and then what happened on the night of 26th we all know.”
Asked if the officials tried to contact them in Pakistan after the attack, Mani said, “Deputy commandant-level officers of paramilitary such as BSF, ITBP and CRPF were in the control room. They kept on trying to contact the Indian counterterrorism officers in Islamabad but were unable to reach them. It could be a Pakistan’s ploy to make them stay at a place where there is a mobile network issue.”
