Former CIA officer John Kiriakou revealed that India and Pakistan were on the brink of war after the 2002 Parliament attack and Operation Parakram, during which the US evacuated its citizens.

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou has revealed that India and Pakistan were very close to war in 2002. This situation arose during the December 2001 Parliament attack and the subsequent Operation Parakram. He explained that US intelligence perceived the threat to be so serious at that time that the families of American officers stationed in Islamabad were immediately evacuated.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Kiriakou said, "We were convinced that India and Pakistan were going to war. We evacuated our families from Islamabad. We were absolutely certain that India and Pakistan were going to war." He said that the situation was so tense that the then US Deputy Secretary of State had to constantly travel between Delhi and Islamabad to broker a compromise between the two countries and avert war. According to Kiriakou, after 9/11, the US was completely focused on al-Qaeda and Afghanistan. Because of this, India's security interests were not taken as seriously.

Kiriako made this big revelation.

He said, "We were so preoccupied with al-Qaeda that we didn't think twice about India." Kiriakou further stated that during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, US intelligence agencies correctly assumed that Pakistan-backed Kashmiri terrorist groups were behind them. He said, "I don't think it was the work of al-Qaeda. It was entirely a conspiracy by Pakistan-backed Kashmiri groups, and that proved to be true." He also said that the biggest problem was that Pakistan continued to spread terrorism in India, but the international community never took strong action.

He continued, "Pakistan was carrying out terrorism in India, and no one was doing anything." Kiriakou explained that India's policy within the CIA was called "strategic patience." He added, "India showed restraint after the Parliament attack and the Mumbai attacks, but now is the time for India to ensure that its restraint is not mistaken for weakness."

What did Kiriako say about the war between India and Pakistan?

Kiriakou warned that if a conventional war breaks out between India and Pakistan, Pakistan will certainly face defeat. He said, "If a real war breaks out, Pakistan will lose. I'm not talking about a nuclear war; even in a conventional war, their defeat is certain." He added that India's military power and strategic capabilities far surpass Pakistan's.

He further said, "Provoking India will not benefit Pakistan. They will lose. That much is clear." Referring to India's recent military actions, Kiriakou said that India has made it clear through steps like the 2016 surgical strike, the 2019 Balakot airstrike, and Operation Sindoor in 2025 that it is not a country to be cowed by cross-border terrorism or nuclear threats. He said, "India has repeatedly demonstrated that it will not tolerate terror and blackmail."

The White House refused to take action.

When asked why the US didn't take action against Pakistan despite so much evidence, he said, "It was the White House's decision. At that time, the US needed relations with Pakistan more than with India. We needed Pakistan; they didn't need us."

Who is John Kiriakou?

John Kiriakou served in the CIA for 15 years. He was first an analyst and later became head of counter-terrorism operations in Pakistan after 9/11. He tracked al-Qaeda operatives in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Quetta. In 2007, he appeared on American media and revealed that the CIA was using torture during interrogations and extracting information from prisoners using techniques like waterboarding. He was subsequently sentenced to 23 months in prison, but he still maintains, "I have no regrets. Whatever I did, I did for the truth."