New Delhi [India]: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Thursday delivered a scathing rebuke to Pakistan over its continued support for terrorist organisations, revealing damning evidence that links the Pakistani state to groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Addressing a media briefing on Operation Sindoor, Misri held up photographic evidence showing Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a US-designated global terrorist and senior LeT commander, leading funeral prayers for those killed in India’s precision strikes on May 7.
“It is odd that the funerals of alleged civilians are carried out with state honours and Pakistani flags. To us, these were terrorists. Giving state funerals to them says a lot about Pakistan’s position,” Misri remarked.
Hafiz Abdul Rauf, designated as a global terrorist by the U.S. Treasury in 2010, was a known facilitator of the 2008 Mumbai attacks which killed 166 people.
Terror Targets and State Complicity:
- Misri accused Pakistan of targeting the Sikh community in Jammu & Kashmir, stating that a Gurdwara in Poonch was attacked, resulting in the deaths of three Sikhs and a total of 16 civilian casualties.
- He also pointed out Pakistan’s opposition in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to naming The Resistance Front (TRF)—a known front for LeT—even after the group claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack twice.
“We did not escalate. We responded. The nature of our response is non-escalatory, precise, and measured. No civilian or military targets were hit,” Misri clarified.
Pakistani Retaliation & India’s Defence Measures:
Pakistan attempted a series of missile and drone strikes on May 7–8 across key Indian military installations, including Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Bhuj.
These attacks were intercepted and neutralized by India’s Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems.
In response, India reportedly deployed Harpy drones—anti-radiation drones—to neutralize air defence radar systems in Lahore, marking a significant escalation in cyber and aerial warfare.
On Pakistani Disinformation:
Misri dismissed Pakistan’s claim of downing Indian jets:
“Pakistan has been lying since its inception. In 1947, they lied to the UN about their role in Kashmir. This pattern continues.”
He also issued a stern warning to Pakistan’s military and government:
“Any further misadventure by Pakistan will be responded to appropriately.”