New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has reaffirmed India’s assertive stance on cross-border terrorism, declaring unequivocally that India will target terrorists wherever they are, including within Pakistan, if provoked by another terror attack like the Pahalgam massacre last month. His remarks come amid the ongoing Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation for the April 22 assault that killed 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to Dutch public broadcaster NOS, Jaishankar emphasized that the military campaign is far from over. “The operation continues because the message is clear: if there are attacks like the one we saw, there will be consequences,” he stated. Responding to suggestions that Operation Sindoor was dormant, he curtly replied: “Put whatever word you want to, but I can tell you the message is clear — the message is act.”
Operation Sindoor: India’s Bold New Doctrine
Operation Sindoor began on May 7, targeting nine terror sites across Pakistan-controlled territory. Indian intelligence had identified these locations as hubs for groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy, The Resistance Front, which was implicated in the Pahalgam killings. The operation led to four days of heavy exchanges using drones, missiles, and long-range artillery, ending with a bilateral cessation of hostilities on May 10.
Jaishankar revealed that India’s military action on May 10 was pivotal: eight Pakistani airbases were struck, rendering their runways and command centers inoperative. “That, I think, compelled the Pakistani military to accept that we need to stop firing at each other,” he said.
Pakistan’s Role and Religious Radicalism
Jaishankar condemned the religious overtones of the April 22 attack, where terrorists reportedly selected their victims based on religious identity. “It was a very barbaric attack aimed at damaging Kashmir’s tourism and inciting religious discord,” he said, while directly criticizing Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir’s extremist ideological influence, linking his recent statements to the timing of the attack.
He stressed that India’s retaliatory strikes were not just military action but a necessary political and moral response: “Our government is very clear — if there is such an attack, there will be a response. Not responding was not an option.”
On Peace Talks and the Role of the U.S.
Rejecting any foreign mediation in the ceasefire, Jaishankar was firm in stating that the May 10 understanding to halt military actions was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan, with no involvement from the United States.
Despite claims from former U.S. President Donald Trump about playing a mediating role, Jaishankar clarified that while global leaders including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance reached out during the crisis, India’s position was clear: “If the Pakistanis want to stop fighting, they need to tell us directly.” This was ultimately achieved through direct military communication.
India’s Stand on Kashmir and Terrorism
The minister reiterated that India’s dialogue with Pakistan will only focus on two issues: ‘Ending terrorism, and The return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.’
“There is no question of negotiating the borders in Kashmir. Kashmir is a part of India,” Jaishankar said, dismissing any suggestion of compromise.
Security and Economic Growth: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Addressing concerns about whether India’s border conflicts with China and Pakistan are hindering its economic rise, Jaishankar argued that national security and economic prosperity are inseparable. “Our security challenges are far more severe than those faced by Europe. You don’t choose between security and prosperity — they are two sides of the same coin,” he asserted.
Minister Jaishankar’s comments signal a resolute shift in India’s doctrine on national security, where preemptive and retaliatory strikes across the border are no longer exceptional but embedded in official policy. Operation Sindoor, far from being symbolic, is now a declaration of India’s readiness to respond forcefully to cross-border terrorism—wherever it originates.
