Choice of De-escalating the Situation Lies with Pakistan, India only Responding: Govt

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, May 8: The choice of de-escalation is with Pakistan as it escalated the situation with the Pahalgam terror attack and India only responded to it through “Operation Sindoor,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a special MEA briefing on Thursday.

“Our approach is not to escalate the situation, we only responded to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack,” he said. The escalation first started on April 22, with Pakistan’s Pahalgam attack and “Operation Sindoor” was in response to it. “Pakistan escalated the situation, we only responded. Choice is with Pakistan,” he said.

“When UNSC was releasing a statement on the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan tried to stop the inclusion of the name of The Resistance Front (TRF), even after the TRF took responsibility of the attacks twice, both on April 22 and 23,” said Misri. “Indian response is non-escalatory…”

“A Pakistani minister said there are no terrorists in Pakistan. Several terrorist attacks around the world where Pakistani fingerprints have been found. I don’t need to remind where Osama bin Laden was found and who called him a martyr. They called Sajid Mir dead, he was then brought to life and arrested. Pakistan is home to a large number of UN proscribed terrorists, including Jaish and Lashkar, and their leaders Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed.”

On Pakistan’s demand for a neutral probe into the Pahalgam attack, he said, “Theirs is not a bright track record…Be it Mumbai or Pathankot terror attacks, India had offered to cooperate and provided forensic evidence and urged Pakistan to bring perpetrators to justice. In the Mumbai 2008 attacks, where a Pakistani LeT terrorist was caught alive, cases were registered, but they never progressed and efforts were stonewalled.

“With regard to Pathankot, details of call records and DNA were shared. We shared all details and evidence of officer-bearers of Jaish-e-Mohammad. But there has been no movement on it. The experience has not been positive and certainly does not give us confidence to take their assertions of joint investigation at face value. These are just delaying tactics to stonewall. In fact, Pakistan uses evidence we provide to cover its tracks and defend terrorists we are looking for,” he said.

On Pakistan’s claims that civilians were killed, he said, “All targets on May 7 were carefully selected. If only civilians were killed, what does this picture signify? Are civilians’ funerals done with state honours? Giving state honours to terrorists may be the practice in Pakistan. Doesn’t seem to make much sense to us.”

On Pakistan’s claims that India deliberately attacked religious sites, he said, “Our targets were terrorist facilities…In fact, Pakistan is misusing religious sites to indoctrinate and train terrorists. They launched a targeted attack on the Sikh community in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir. Three individuals were killed in that particular attack…Their retaliatory action is impacting civilians. Since yesterday morning, 16 civilians have been killed and 59 injured… Pakistan army chief’s speech in April is the last word on communal rhetoric …The Pahalgam attack saw religious profiling. People from all faiths and religions have unequivocally condemned the attack.”

Pakistani claims of responding to India’s strikes, he said. “They are not responding. We responded to April 22. I would like to emphasise that the action was restrained and was confined to terrorist camps. Any further action by Pakistan, which we are now seeing is escalation, and will be responded to.”

Pakistan’s claim on Neelam-Jhelum project, he said, “This is absolute and complete fabrication and blatant lie. We have only targeted terrorist infrastructure and details.” On the Indus Waters Treaty, he said, “India has been in communication with Pakistan and have sent several notices to discuss modification of treaty. We have honoured the treaty even when Pakistan imposed wars on us.

“Pakistan is acting in violation of treaty deliberating creating roadblocks in India exercising its rights on the rivers….The preamble says the treaty was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship…This is India’s patience ‘ki hum is treaty ko nibhaa rahe hain’…There have been demographic, climate and technological changes and the terrorism Pakistan has wreaked in J&K. Pakistan’s persistent refusal to enter government-to-government negotiations is violation of the treaty. That is why India kept the treaty in abeyance.”

The ministry said Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using Mortars and heavy calibre Artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. “Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing. Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring Mortar and Artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt.

The Indian Army in a statement said: “Indian Army stands in solidarity with the innocent civilians who are victims of attacks orchestrated through indiscriminate artillery shelling by the adversary in the Poonch sector. The nefarious designs of our enemies have been and will continue to be thwarted with resolute and punitive action.”

After the airstrikes, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had on Wednesday said the forces ensured that no innocents were killed and only those who perpetrated the Pahalgam attack were killed. “We only killed those who killed our innocents,” Singh said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to review the security situation. Mr Modi also chaired a high-level meeting with secretaries of various ministries and departments to review national preparedness and assess inter-ministerial coordination in view of recent developments concerning national security.

During the meeting, PM Modi underlined the importance of “seamless coordination among ministries and agencies” to ensure operational continuity and institutional resilience, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. He reviewed the planning and preparation undertaken by ministries to deal with the current situation.

Secretaries were directed to carry out a comprehensive review of their ministry’s operations and to ensure the fool-proof functioning of essential systems, with a specific focus on readiness, emergency response, and internal communication protocols.

According to an official release, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for continued alertness, institutional synergy, and clear communication mechanisms as the nation navigates a sensitive period. He reiterated the Centre’s unwavering commitment to ensuring national security, operational preparedness, and the safety of citizens.

“All Ministries are fully prepared to respond to emerging situations,” the Government statement said, noting that actionable points have been identified by Ministries in relation to the conflict, with institutional processes being reinforced accordingly.

The meeting also discussed a range of issues, including the strengthening of civil defence mechanisms, strategies to counter misinformation and fake news, and the safeguarding of critical infrastructure. Ministries were advised to work in close coordination with State Governments and ground-level agencies.

Secretaries presented their preparedness plans under a “whole of Government” approach in response to the current security landscape. The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, and Secretaries from key Ministries including Defence, Home, External Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Power, Health, and Telecommunications.