India’s Precision Strikes on Terror Camps and Stern Message to Pakistan: A Detailed Overview of Escalation, Diplomacy, and Security Response



The April 22 Pahalgam Attack: The Flashpoint

The trigger for recent cross-border tensions was the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which left 26 civilians, including a Nepali national, dead. India has called this the “original escalation”, setting the stage for decisive counteraction.



Operation Sindoor: A Measured but Forceful Response

On May 7, India launched 'Operation Sindoor', a coordinated military operation led by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, striking nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). These included high-profile terror hideouts in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot, and Kotli, known for harbouring leadership of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

According to the Ministry of Defence, all targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian or military casualties and focused solely on terror infrastructure, with no attacks on Pakistani military installations.



Pakistan’s Retaliation and India’s Counter-Measures

Hours after India's precision strikes, Pakistan escalated tensions by targeting Indian military locations with drones and loitering munitions, triggering air defence responses across Jammu, Amritsar, Srinagar, Pathankot, and other border areas. India responded by neutralising Pakistani air defence radars, notably one in Lahore, using Harpy drones designed for radar suppression.




The Toll of Escalation: Civilian Casualties and LoC Shelling

Pakistan intensified unprovoked mortar shelling across LoC sectors like Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, and Rajouri. As per the Indian Defence Ministry, 16 civilians, including three women and five children, were killed. India clarified its responses were “calibrated”, aimed solely at stopping Pakistan’s artillery fire.



Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s Blunt Take on Pakistan

At a joint media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that “India is only responding to original escalations”, reaffirming that terrorist infrastructure was the sole target. He labelled Pakistan as a “country that started lying since it was born,” referring to historical fabrications, including false denials about the 1947 invasion of Jammu and Kashmir.

Misri pointed to Pakistan's long record of supporting terror outfits like LeT and JeM, now operating through fronts like The Resistance Front. He dismissed Pakistan’s call for a joint probe into the Pahalgam attack, citing its history of stonewalling investigations, such as those related to the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot attacks.



Religious Sites and Civilian Targets: Misinformation vs. Reality

Misri denied Pakistani claims that India targeted religious places. Instead, he accused Pakistan of hitting a Gurdwara and Sikh homes in Poonch, killing three community members, exposing Pakistan’s hypocrisy in accusing India while attacking civilians themselves.



India’s Position on Indus Waters Treaty

India also addressed concerns about the Indus Waters Treaty, which it has temporarily suspended. Misri clarified that while India has honoured the treaty for over six decades, including during wars, Pakistan has repeatedly violated it by blocking projects permitted under the agreement.



External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s Strategic Stand

During the India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting, EAM S. Jaishankar emphasised that India's response through Operation Sindoor was “measured and targeted” but warned that “any military attack will be met with a very, very firm response.”

He highlighted that India doesn’t wish to escalate but asserted its right to respond when provoked. Jaishankar also celebrated 75 years of diplomatic ties with Iran, reinforcing regional stability partnerships.



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