India initiated a carefully calibrated military operation named Operation Sindoor early Wednesday morning, striking terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered regions. The move comes in the wake of a horrific terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, where 26 people, mainly tourists, were killed.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that these actions were taken in line with India’s right to defend itself and prevent future cross-border threats. Speaking at a press briefing, he underscored that the operation was “measured, proportionate, and aimed solely at disrupting terrorist infrastructure and eliminating those preparing to infiltrate Indian territory.”
The Indian government revealed that precision strikes were carried out at nine separate locations believed to harbour militants linked to recent attacks. The strikes specifically targeted training camps and launch pads used by terrorist groups operating out of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Misri denounced the Pahalgam attack as a heinous act, highlighting that the assailants shot victims at point-blank range in front of their families to spread terror. He said the assault was a calculated attempt to derail peace and economic recovery in Kashmir, especially as the region welcomed a record 23 million tourists in 2024.
He further added that despite the lapse of two weeks, Islamabad had shown no intent to act against those responsible. Instead, the only response from Pakistan was “denial and diversion.” Intelligence agencies monitoring terror activity in the region had identified imminent threats, prompting India to act both as a deterrent and a defensive measure.
Accompanying Misri at the press briefing were Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who shared operational insights into the strike.
Misri identified The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group for Lashkar-e-Taiba, as the outfit behind the Pahalgam massacre. He said India had submitted evidence of TRF’s activities to the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee during reports in May and November 2024. Additionally, he recalled how groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar had been flagged by India for operating through smaller outfits such as TRF.
Highlighting the timing of the attack, Misri noted it took place while US Vice President JD Vance was visiting India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on an official trip to Saudi Arabia, which he had to cut short following the attack.
Ongoing investigations have revealed crucial information about the perpetrators, including the identification of attackers through eyewitness accounts and intelligence data. Misri said authorities now have a clear understanding of the people who orchestrated and supported the assault.
India also flagged Pakistan’s reported effort to erase references to TRF in the April 25 UN Security Council press statement as significant. Further, communication intercepts confirmed links between the terrorists and handlers in Pakistan. TRF’s social media posts, often reshared by Lashkar-e-Taiba-affiliated channels, added to the body of evidence.
Misri reaffirmed that the patterns of the Pahalgam attack are consistent with Pakistan’s long-standing practice of sponsoring cross-border terrorism—a claim India asserts is well established globally.
He added that Pakistan continues to offer refuge to internationally sanctioned terrorists and has a history of misleading global bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Misri cited the Sajid Mir case as a stark example—where Pakistan had declared the terrorist dead, only to later present him alive under international scrutiny.
