Jaishankar Rebukes Congress, Affirms Operation Sindoor Was Executed Without Prior Intimation to Pakistan

 New Delhi, May 26 – In a sharp rebuttal to the Opposition, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday clarified that Pakistan was not informed in advance of Operation Sindoor, India’s latest counterterrorism strike, and strongly criticised what he described as the Congress party’s “dishonest misrepresentation of facts,” according to sources cited by CNN-News18.

Speaking at a meeting of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the capital, Jaishankar emphasized that the Pakistani Directorate General of Military Operations (DGMO) was notified only after the operation had been carried out—and even then, only following the initial press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Sources familiar with the proceedings confirmed that Jaishankar’s remarks came in the wake of a contentious exchange between members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition. The Minister reportedly reassured the panel that the government had taken all necessary measures to counter disinformation campaigns propagated by Pakistan in the aftermath of the strike.

‘India Struck at the Epicentre of Terrorism’

Addressing broader regional concerns, including rising terror threats beyond Jammu & Kashmir, particularly in Punjab, several committee members urged a more assertive strategic posture. In response, Jaishankar stated that this time, India deliberately targeted the “epicentre of terrorism,” namely, the operational headquarters of terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

“This is a decisive step no previous government has dared to take,” he added, underscoring the uniqueness of India’s approach under the current administration.

Highlighting global support for India’s anti-terror campaign, Jaishankar pointed out that “out of 200 countries, only three stood by Pakistan,” signaling a broad international consensus backing India’s position.

Firm on Indus Waters Treaty and Dialogue Terms

Reiterating India’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty, the External Affairs Minister noted that India remains committed to implementing the treaty in a manner that protects its national interests. “The impact of our approach will become evident in the coming days,” he said.

On future diplomatic engagement with Islamabad, Jaishankar was unequivocal: “There will be no dialogue with Pakistan, except on two issues—Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and terrorism. ‘Operation Sindoor’ will persist as long as Pakistan continues its provocations.”

He also confirmed that India’s stance on cross-border terrorism has now been conveyed unequivocally to the international community.

No Third-Party Mediation, Says India

Responding to questions regarding recent comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump, Jaishankar firmly reiterated India's longstanding position that all matters with Pakistan are strictly bilateral.

“India has no control over what anyone says, including the U.S. President,” he remarked. “There were only DGMO-to-DGMO communications—there was no American involvement.”

Operation Sindoor: A Decisive Response to Terror

Relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated significantly following a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, in which 26 civilians, including tourists, were killed. In a calibrated and strategic response, Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor during the intervening night of May 7–8, targeting terror camps in both Pakistan and POK.

The operation reportedly neutralized over 100 terrorists who were operating from Pakistani soil.

In a closing note, members of the Consultative Committee praised the government’s assertive foreign policy, particularly its strong diplomatic stance against countries like Turkey that have criticised India’s counterterrorism efforts.