‘From destroying Lahore air defence to foiling Pak’s drones’ MEA’s big revelations over Ops Sindoor

Summary

The briefing, led by Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Mishri, details India's response to escalating cross-border aggression from Pakistan, particularly following Pakistan's missile and drone attacks on May 7, 2025. The Indian government stresses its targeted, controlled retaliation against terrorist infrastructure while emphasizing the false claims from Pakistan regarding civilian casualties and religious site attacks. The briefing also addresses Pakistan's involvement in global terrorism and its refusal to cooperate in investigations of past attacks. Additionally, the Foreign Secretary raised concerns over the Indus Waters Treaty, advocating for its reassessment due to changing geopolitical and technological conditions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pakistan launched an attack on India on 7th May 2025, using drones and missiles targeting military sites across northern and western India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Indian defense systems successfully neutralized these threats.
• 😀 The Indian response to Pakistan's attack on 7th May was targeted, measured, and precise, focusing on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan rather than civilian areas.
• 😀 India holds Pakistan responsible for the original escalation of hostilities, starting with a terror attack on 22nd April 2025 in Pahelgam, which India considers the true escalation.
• 😀 The group 'Resistance Front' (TRF), linked to Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the Pahelgam attack, later retracting it when the international scale of the attack became evident.
• 😀 Pakistan has been accused of using disinformation tactics to deflect attention from its support of terrorism. India pointed to Pakistan's historical role as the 'epicenter of global terrorism' with concrete evidence.
• 😀 The Indian government highlighted Pakistan's longstanding support for terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, pointing out their leaders' roles in global terrorism.
• 😀 India emphasized that its strikes on Pakistan on 7th May were not aimed at civilians but at terrorist infrastructure. However, Pakistan's media reports, including funerals for the terrorists, seemed to suggest otherwise.
• 😀 Pakistan falsely claimed that India attacked religious sites. India refuted this, stating its targets were specific to terrorist camps and infrastructure tied to cross-border terrorism.
• 😀 Pakistan's retaliatory actions, including attacks on the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir, have resulted in civilian casualties, with 16 killed and 59 injured since 7th May.
• 😀 India denied Pakistan's claims of targeting the Nam Jalam project, labeling it as a fabrication. India reiterated that its actions were focused solely on eliminating terrorist infrastructure.
• 😀 India has called for a reassessment of the Indus Waters Treaty, pointing out Pakistan's violations and its reluctance to negotiate, despite India respecting the treaty for decades.

Q & A

What was the key event that escalated tensions between India and Pakistan on April 22, 2025?

The key event was a terrorist attack in Pahelgam, which is considered the original escalation by Pakistan, marking the beginning of the ongoing conflict.

What is Operation Sindur and how is it related to the recent military actions?

Operation Sindur is the Indian military's response to escalating attacks from Pakistan, including drone and missile strikes on Indian military targets. It is part of India's counter-response to Pakistan's provocations, including the terrorist attacks and the firing across the Line of Control (LoC).

What types of military systems were used by India to neutralize the drone and missile attacks from Pakistan?

India used integrated counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) and air defense systems to neutralize the drone and missile attacks that Pakistan launched on May 7, 2025.

Which Pakistani groups are believed to be involved in the recent attacks on India?

The 'Resistance Front' (TRF), a known front for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist organization, has claimed responsibility for the attack in Pahelgam on April 22, 2025.

How has Pakistan responded to India’s actions and what accusations has it made?

Pakistan has claimed that India’s actions are an escalation, accusing India of targeting civilians and religious sites. Pakistan also made false claims about the targeting of the Nam Jalam dam and religious sites, which were denied by India.

How has India responded to the Pakistani claims of civilian casualties in the May 7th attacks?

India has reiterated that the strikes on May 7th were targeted at terrorist infrastructure and that any civilian casualties were either accidental or related to terrorists. India also pointed out that funerals for terrorists were held with Pakistani flags and state honors.

What was the Pakistani response to the strike on the morning of May 7th, and how did India characterize it?

Pakistan increased mortar and artillery fire across the Line of Control (LoC), which India condemned as unprovoked. India stated that it is merely responding to Pakistan’s original escalation and reaffirmed its commitment to non-escalation provided Pakistan respects the ceasefire.

What is Pakistan’s stance regarding international terrorism, according to the Indian briefing?

Pakistan continues to deny involvement in terrorism despite evidence linking it to multiple global terrorist attacks. India criticized Pakistan for shielding known terrorists and sponsoring cross-border terrorism, highlighting groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

What are the issues with the Indus Waters Treaty that have been raised by India?

India has raised concerns about Pakistan’s violation of the Indus Waters Treaty by blocking Indian projects on the Western rivers. India has called for negotiations to reassess the treaty due to changes in technology, demographics, and the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Why does India reject Pakistan’s calls for a joint investigation into the Pahelgam attack?

India rejects the calls for a joint investigation because of Pakistan’s history of stonewalling previous investigations into terrorist attacks, such as those in Mumbai (2008) and Pathankot (2016), where Pakistan failed to bring perpetrators to justice despite India's cooperation.