India Justifies ‘Operation Sindoor’ After Pahalgam Attack; Slams Pakistan for Inaction on Terror Networks

 New Delhi, May 7 — In a strongly worded statement following the Indian Air Force’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday accused Pakistan of failing to dismantle terror infrastructure linked to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.

Addressing the media shortly after the operation, Misri stated that the attack was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. “The links to Pakistan are irrefutable,” Misri said. “Despite credible intelligence and mounting international concern, Pakistan has taken no visible steps to address or dismantle these terrorist networks.”

He further highlighted Pakistan’s persistent role as a sanctuary for extremist elements. “Pakistan has unfortunately earned a global reputation as a safe haven for terrorists,” he remarked.

India, Misri noted, had repeatedly alerted the international community to the threat posed by TRF. The group’s activities were documented in reports submitted to the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee in May and November 2024. These reports exposed TRF’s function as a front for proscribed terror groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Misri also pointed to Pakistan’s efforts to suppress references to TRF in the UN Security Council’s April 25 press statement, calling it a troubling move that undermines global counter-terrorism efforts.

Citing findings from the ongoing investigation into the Pahalgam attack, Misri said evidence has surfaced of communication links between the attackers and operatives based in Pakistan. “The responsibility claimed by TRF, and its amplification through known Lashkar-affiliated social media handles, further confirms these connections,” he added.

The foreign secretary stressed that the attack was calculated to incite communal tensions across Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India. “The modus operandi clearly aimed to destabilize social harmony,” he said.

In concluding remarks, Misri affirmed that India’s security agencies had received actionable intelligence suggesting additional planned attacks, compelling the government to undertake proactive measures. “With credible inputs indicating future threats, it became imperative to act swiftly and decisively to neutralize the danger,” he said.