Press Briefing on #OperationSindoor (8 May, 2025)

Introduction and Context

On 8 May 2025, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs held a press briefing led by Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri, joined by Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. The purpose was to update the media and public on recent developments following Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025.

Foreign Secretary Misri opened the session by addressing the escalation triggered by the original terror incident and clarified India’s stance and actions taken since then.

Pakistani Attacks and Indian Response

Pakistani Drone and Missile Strikes

On the night of 6 May, Pakistan launched drones and missiles targeting several cities in northern and western India. Locations targeted included:

• Srinagar
• Jammu
• Pathankot
• Amritsar
• Ludhiana
• Chandigarh
• Bhatinda
• Jalandhar
• Other adjoining regions

These attacks were effectively neutralized by India’s integrated counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and air defense mechanisms. Debris from these engagements was recovered across several impact sites.

Indian Military Counteraction

In the early hours of 8 May, Indian forces launched retaliatory precision strikes, targeting Pakistani air defense systems and radars, including those in Lahore. This marked a response proportional to Pakistan’s escalation. India also responded to increased shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) where Pakistani artillery fire killed 16 civilians, including women and children. India’s counter-fire was aimed at suppressing further provocations.

Clarifying India’s Position

India’s Actions Were Non-Escalatory

Foreign Secretary Misri emphasized that India’s operations were targeted, restrained, and focused solely on terrorist infrastructure. The goal was justice and deterrence, not escalation.

• No civilian or military establishments were targeted.
• Attacks were limited to terrorist training centers and launch pads.

Disinformation from Pakistan

Pakistan attempted to deflect blame and propagate misleading narratives:

• Claiming no terrorists exist in Pakistan
• Alleging Indian strikes killed civilians
• Accusing India of targeting religious sites

India categorically refuted all such claims:

• Terrorist funerals, with state honors and Pakistani flags, proved the nature of the individuals neutralized.
• Pakistan’s own strike on Sikh civilian homes in Poonch, resulting in civilian deaths, further exposed their tactics.

Historical Context and Terror Infrastructure

Foreign Secretary Misri revisited the history of Pakistani involvement in terror activities:

• Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed operate with state backing.
• India provided detailed evidence of this infrastructure to the UN 1267 Sanctions Monitoring Committee multiple times.
• Notorious terrorists, including Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, continue to operate openly.
• Past cases, including the Mumbai 26/11 and Pathankot attacks, showed Pakistan’s consistent denial, delay, and shielding of terrorists despite forensic evidence.

On Joint Investigations

India rejected Pakistan’s call for joint investigations, citing previous experience where shared evidence was used to obscure rather than expose truth.

Rebutting Civilian Casualty Claims

Pakistan’s claim that only civilians were killed in India’s strikes was countered by:

• Footage of funerals conducted with military honors.
• Use of Pakistani national flags on terrorist coffins.
• Lack of civilian identifiers in the aftermath.

Misri reaffirmed that every target was selected with caution to avoid collateral damage.

On the Indus Waters Treaty

Foreign Secretary Misri addressed disinformation regarding the Indus Waters Treaty:

• India has long honored the treaty, even during war and adversarial conditions.
• Pakistan repeatedly created legal roadblocks to India’s rightful usage of river resources.
• India has formally placed the treaty under abeyance, citing Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism as a violation of treaty spirit.
• Negotiation requests sent by India were consistently ignored.

Misri highlighted that outdated treaty clauses and modern challenges, including climate change, population growth, and technological advancement, necessitate reassessment.

International Response and Global Support

Foreign Secretary Misri confirmed strong international backing for India’s right to self-defense:

• The United States, Saudi Arabia, and other global powers unequivocally condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.
• Many nations issued statements supporting India’s right to respond with restraint.
• Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister visited India and met senior officials including Prime Minister Modi.

Final Statements and Media Questions

In response to questions, the Foreign Secretary:

• Declined to disclose operational details, citing ongoing developments.
• Denied knowledge of any talks between Indian and Pakistani National Security Advisors.
• Rejected Pakistani claims of Indian strikes on religious sites and dams.
• Clarified that India’s targets were solely terror-linked infrastructure.

He reiterated that further escalation from Pakistan would compel an appropriate and proportionate Indian response.

The session concluded with an affirmation of India’s resolve to counter terrorism, protect its citizens, and continue receiving strong global diplomatic support.

Summary

India maintains that Operation Sindoor and its subsequent actions are measured responses to the terror attack on 22 April. It remains committed to avoiding escalation while exercising its sovereign right to self-defense against state-sponsored terrorism.

Jai Hind 🇮🇳