India has launched a measured and targeted military operation in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. The assault, carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists, marks the deadliest terror incident on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
On May 7, 2025, the Government of India initiated Operation Sindoor, a counter-terrorist strike aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Indian authorities have described the operation as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible.”
Foreign Secretary Mr. Shri Vikram Misri, in a press briefing, emphasized that India’s actions were necessary not only to hold perpetrators accountable but also to deter further attacks.
“These actions were focused on disabling terrorists likely to be sent across to India,” Misri stated. “India’s latest actions should be seen in the context of the April 25 UN Security Council press statement, which called for the accountability of perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors of the Pahalgam attack.”
The April 22 massacre in the tourist town of Pahalgam, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, was marked by unprecedented brutality. Victims, including families, were shot at close range, often in front of their loved ones.
Misri noted that the attack appeared calculated to disrupt normalcy and economic recovery in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly its booming tourism sector, which drew over 23 million visitors in the past year.
Investigators have confirmed that the Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy for the UN-designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. India has long maintained that TRF serves as a front to mask Pakistan’s support for terrorism.
Misri highlighted India’s repeated efforts to alert the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee about TRF’s operations in previous reports in 2023 and 2024.
India has accused Pakistan of not taking any meaningful action against terrorist groups operating from its territory. Misri reiterated that despite international pressure and UN condemnations, Islamabad has responded only with denials and attempts to deflect blame.
He cited the example of Sajid Mir, a key figure in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, whom Pakistan declared dead for years, only to later acknowledge his existence under global scrutiny.
“Pakistan has a long and well-documented history of harboring and enabling terrorists,” Misri asserted. “There has been no demonstrable action taken against terror infrastructure within its territory.”
Joining the briefing were Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Armed Forces. They confirmed that nine terrorist sites were targeted under Operation Sindoor, all of which were used to train or house militants operating against India.
“No Pakistani military installations were struck,” said Colonel Qureshi. “This was a focused counter-terrorism strike. The operation was carefully calibrated to avoid escalation.”
India’s response, while firm, is positioned as a defensive and preventive measure. The Indian government has reiterated its commitment to acting against terrorist threats with strength and precision, without provoking broader military confrontation.
Foreign Secretary Misri concluded by stating that India remains resolute in its determination to ensure that those responsible for the Pahalgam attack, both planners and executors, are brought to justice.
“The failure of Pakistan to act compelled India to respond. These measures are not just retribution—they are a defense of the safety, stability, and dignity of our nation and its people.”