India has squarely placed the blame for recent tensions on Pakistan, holding Islamabad responsible for triggering the current crisis with the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, speaking at a special media briefing on Thursday (May 8), emphasized that India’s actions were reactive and restrained.
“Our approach is not to escalate the situation—we responded solely to the April 22 terror attack,” Misri stated. He clarified that India’s strikes were “limited, precise, and aimed exclusively at terrorist camps—not military installations or civilian infrastructure.”
Misri underscored that the onus of de-escalation now lies with Pakistan.
“Pakistan initiated this escalation, and we simply responded. The decision to de-escalate lies with Islamabad,” he stated. He also condemned Pakistan’s denial of responsibility and its efforts to obscure the role of The Resistance Force, a group that publicly claimed credit for the Pahalgam attack. Despite this, Islamabad opposed mentioning the group at the UN Security Council, which Misri described as deceptive and misleading.
Highlighting Pakistan’s retaliatory actions, the Foreign Secretary accused Islamabad of endangering civilian lives through cross-border shelling and drone incursions. At least 16 civilians have been killed and dozens more injured, according to Indian figures. Misri presented photographic evidence of damaged civilian areas and alleged that Pakistan had deliberately targeted minority communities in India, including a Sikh gurdwara.
Addressing Pakistani allegations that Indian strikes damaged religious sites, Misri dismissed them as baseless. “India’s operations were strictly confined to terror infrastructure,” he affirmed. He further accused Pakistan of misusing religious spaces for radicalization and militant training.
When asked about reports of backchannel communication between the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of the two nations, Misri said, “I have no information regarding contacts between the two NSAs.”
He reiterated India’s longstanding concerns about Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism, citing previous attacks in Mumbai (2008) and Pathankot (2016) as examples where Pakistan failed to act despite receiving detailed evidence from India.
Responding to Pakistan’s claims that Indian strikes had targeted infrastructure like dams, Misri called these accusations “entirely false,” warning that any use of such claims as a pretext to target Indian civilian assets would make Pakistan “fully accountable for the consequences.”
On the Indus Waters Treaty, Misri stated that evolving geopolitical and environmental conditions necessitate a review of its terms. While India has adhered to the treaty’s obligations, he noted that Pakistan has repeatedly obstructed legal and technical projects and refused to engage constructively in dialogue.
Concluding his remarks, Misri emphasized that while India remains committed to defending itself with determination, it remains open to peace—“if Pakistan chooses the path of restraint.” He called for international vigilance, greater transparency, and global recognition of India’s right to defend its citizens from terrorism.
Huma Siddiqui
