ISLAMABAD: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi has ignited intense debate by sarcastically urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emulate the United States’ recent operation in Venezuela by sending troops into Pakistan to apprehend the alleged masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. In a public rally in Mumbai on January 3 2026 Owaisi referenced the reported US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro who was allegedly transported to New York for prosecution on narco-terrorism charges. He questioned why India could not adopt a similar bold approach to bring back suspects such as Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives responsible for the attacks that claimed 166 lives highlighting ongoing frustrations over delayed justice.
The provocative remarks were made in the context of heightened political rhetoric ahead of Mumbai civic polls scheduled for mid-January 2026. Owaisi directly addressed Modi invoking the Prime Minister’s famous “56-inch chest” comment and past promises of strong action against terrorism. He specifically named Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Masood Azhar along with Lashkar-e-Taiba figures insisting that if US forces could execute an extraterritorial capture India possessed the military strength to do likewise. This statement has revived discussions on the unresolved Mumbai attacks case which involved 10 LeT militants infiltrating the city by sea and targeting key sites like hotels the railway station and a Jewish centre causing widespread international condemnation.
Pakistan has long rejected allegations of providing safe haven to the Mumbai perpetrators asserting that domestic investigations have been conducted with several suspects facing trials while accusing India of politicising the tragedy for domestic gains. The attacks from November 26 to 29 2008 remain a major point of contention with India submitting multiple dossiers demanding extradition of figures including Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. Despite convictions in Pakistan for some involved full accountability has been elusive leading to persistent bilateral strain and limited cooperation on counter-terrorism matters.
Social media users have shown mixed reactions to Owaisi’s challenge with many expressing scepticism about its feasibility given Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities. One user Krishna commented that while the point might be correct the idea of such an operation against Pakistan a nuclear state was inconceivable as even the United States would not seriously contemplate it due to the risk of catastrophic escalation. This reflects broader public concern over the nuclear deterrent that has historically prevented direct military confrontations between the two neighbours despite periodic crises.
Prominent Pakistani journalists have offered cautious perspectives on such provocative statements though direct quotes from Nasim Zehra and Hamid Mir on this specific incident remain limited in immediate coverage. Nasim Zehra has consistently highlighted the perils of military adventurism in South Asia emphasising the nuclear threshold as a critical barrier to unilateral actions. Hamid Mir a senior analyst often calls for dialogue over confrontation warning that inflammatory rhetoric can undermine peace efforts and exacerbate tensions in an already fragile region. Their views underscore the dangers of statements that could be interpreted as calls for escalation.
The statement underscores the deep-seated impasse in India-Pakistan relations where terrorism allegations continue to overshadow diplomatic engagement. International observers point out that the US Venezuela operation involved a non-nuclear state accused of transnational crimes whereas any comparable action against Pakistan would violate established sovereignty norms and provoke severe global repercussions. Owaisi’s sarcasm serves primarily as political opposition critique but it also illustrates the enduring challenge of securing justice for Mumbai victims amid mutual distrust and differing legal approaches.
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Responses from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have dismissed Owaisi’s remarks as sensationalism and opportunism reaffirming India’s policy of precise targeted operations against terrorists without escalating to full-scale state conflict. This episode may fuel pre-election discourse in Mumbai but it reinforces the necessity for international mediation to address terrorism concerns without risking wider regional instability.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/urdu/articles/cx2x7wnyxngo
Tags: Asaduddin Owaisi, Narendra Modi, Mumbai Attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Venezuela Operation