India Issues Stern Warning to Pakistan After Operation Sindoor; Reaffirms Precision, Non-Escalatory Approach

 New Delhi, May 7 — Hours after launching Operation Sindoor, a series of targeted military strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Government of India issued a firm warning to Islamabad on Wednesday, cautioning against any “misadventure” that could lead to escalation.

In a high-level joint press briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Armed Forces, along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, underscored that the operation was aimed solely at eliminating terrorist infrastructure, not at provoking a broader military conflict.

“No military establishment was targeted, and there are no reports of civilian casualties. The Indian armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any Pakistani misadventure that could escalate the situation,” said Wing Commander Singh.

The officials confirmed that nine terror facilities—including four in Pakistan’s Punjab province and five in PoK—were precisely targeted and neutralized based on credible intelligence indicating their involvement in previous and planned cross-border terror attacks.

“The selected locations were intentionally chosen to avoid civilian infrastructure and loss of innocent lives,” added Wing Commander Singh.

Colonel Qureshi further clarified that the operation was conducted in a measured and responsible manner, in line with India’s right to self-defense.

“These were known launchpads of terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), directly linked to recent attacks, including the massacre in Pahalgam,” she said.

The April 22 Pahalgam attack, which left 26 civilians dead, including women and newlyweds, prompted the Indian government to act decisively. According to intelligence assessments, at least 17 terrorists were killed in the overnight strikes, with over 60 others injured.

Foreign Secretary Misri emphasized that India’s action was proportionate, non-provocative, and focused purely on deterrence:

“Investigations into the Pahalgam attack uncovered direct communication links between the attackers and handlers in Pakistan. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of LeT, claimed responsibility. Our intelligence indicated that additional attacks were imminent, compelling us to act to both deter and disrupt future threats.”

Shortly before India’s press conference, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif appeared on a domestic news channel, stating that Pakistan would “refrain from escalation if India backs down,” while asserting Islamabad’s readiness to respond if provoked.

India’s response, however, was positioned firmly as a measured counter-terror initiative, not an act of aggression. The government reiterated that the strikes were in line with international norms of self-defense and carried out with precision to avoid civilian or military collateral damage.

With diplomatic channels on alert and military preparedness heightened, officials noted that India remains committed to maintaining peace—but will not hesitate to act decisively against cross-border terrorism.