New Delhi: In a high-level press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, flanked by Col Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, detailed the rationale and execution of Operation Sindoor, India’s multi-service military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
🔴 Key Takeaways from the Briefing:
- Brutality of the Pahalgam Attack:
Misri condemned the “barbarity” of the Pahalgam attack, noting that victims were shot in the head at close range, often in front of their families, in what he called a “deliberate attempt to traumatize.” - Threat of More Attacks:
Indian intelligence had credible evidence of further imminent cross-border terrorist attacks, necessitating a pre-emptive and deterrent response. - Failure of Pakistani Action:
Despite the passage of two weeks, Misri said Pakistan had taken no demonstrable action against the perpetrators or the terror infrastructure responsible for the Pahalgam massacre. - Justification for Military Action:
India’s strikes were “measured, proportionate, non-escalatory, and responsible,” aimed solely at dismantling terror infrastructure—not targeting Pakistani military installations.
🎯 Operation Sindoor Highlights:
- Targets: 9 terrorist locations
- Inside Pakistan: Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot
- In PoJK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir): 5 sites
- Objective: Neutralize senior leadership and camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
- Execution: A coordinated tri-service operation (Army, Navy, Air Force), launched from within Indian territory, using precision-guided munitions.
- Oversight: Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the operation overnight.
🛑 Context:
The operation is India’s deepest strike into Pakistan’s undisputed territory since 1971, marking a significant escalation while still framed as “non-escalatory” by Indian authorities.