MAY 2025

As part of a concerted diplomatic outreach, an Indian delegation comprising members of Parliament is currently visiting 33 countries to assert India's resolve against terrorism and to build global consensus around counter-terror action.

Here is an account of the brutal Pahalgam attack and the military action thereafter, to articulate India's principled, determined, and proportionate response of India.

•  भारत न्याय के साथ शांति चाहता है: ऑपरेशन सिंदूर 

To contextualize India's position, India is not just a regional power facing persistent terror threats, but as a responsible largest democracy, calling for a united global stance against the forces of extremism and violence.

1995 Tokyo Subway Serene Attack

1995 Oklahoma City Bombing

2001 9/11 Attacks in United States

2004 Madrid Train Bombing in Spain

2005 London 7-7 Bombing

2015 Paris Attack

2016 Brussels Bombing

2016 Again Nice Truck Attack in France

2017 Manchester Arena Bombing

2017 London Bridge Attack

2017 Again Westminster Knife Attack

2018 Christmas Market Shooting in France

2020 Vienna Shooting

and the list goes on.

These are some of the terror attacks, outside of India, the world has seen since 1995 and it is a very strong message to all cities and towns of the world which is bearing still the scars of those terror attacks and it is an awake of yet another terror attack in India.

Unlike other countries, India has endured many more number of terrorist attacks.

So, India wants to remind the world that terrorism, extremism is a shared problem with spirit of solidarity with the victims of terror across the world.

In a world still haunted by the memory of terror attacks, be it New York to Nairobi, Paris to Mumbai, the international community must recognize a stark truth, terrorism knows no 

borders, and its reach continues to devastate families, societies and entire nations.

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Unlike other countries, India has endured many more number of terrorist attacks

Since, India is bearing one of the heaviest burdens of this global scourge, it reaffirms commitment to peace, justice and responsible action in the face of persistent threats.

India has endured more than 30 major terrorist attacks since 2001 and that includes attack on Indian parliament in that year and 2008 Mumbai attacks in which over 170 people from 14 nationalities were killed.

The wounds of such incidents are deep and enduring.

Unlike many nations that have suffered sporadic violence, India lives with a near continuous threat often emanating from the western neighbour Pakistan and this is a reality that deserves greater global recognition.

• भारत न्याय के साथ शांति चाहता है: ऑपरेशन सिंदूर 

The Pahalgam attack, on 22nd April is yet the latest tragic reminder in which 26 innocent civilians, 25 Indians and 1 Nepalese were murdered.

Not just a violent act but a premeditated attempt to fracture India's social fabric.

The attackers were members of so-called Resistance Front which is a known proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba. They targeted victims based on religious identity, forcing them to reveal their faith before execution.

During the incident, one chilling case involved a Kashmiri Muslim pony operator died heroically trying to save tourists from the attackers. 

Another case, a Hindu professor was spared only because he recited the Kalima. 

Kalima is a declaration of faith that affirms the belief in Allah's oneness and Muhammad's prophethood.

These accounts underscore the brutality of the act and the failure of its intended outcome to provoke sectarian violence in India.

But then the opposite happened.

In Kashmir, which is a 95% Muslim-majority region, there was a widespread shutdown the next day in pure solidarity with the victims.

Across the country, Indians of all backgrounds mourned together, grieved together.

A young woman whose father was killed while walking their twin sons later recounted how two Kashmiri Muslim men saved her and her children, even helping her retrieve her father's body from the morgue.

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Not just a violent act but a premeditated attempt to fracture India's social fabric

Those stories reaffirm the resilience and the unity of Indian people.

While India's sorrow was profound, it did not scum to rage or reckless aggression.

Instead, India opted for a response that was firm, proportionate, and intelligent.

On the early morning, 1:05 a.m. of the 7th May, Indian armed forces carried out surgical strikes under the “Operation Sindoor”, on nine terrorist facilities across the border into Pakistan.

• भारत न्याय के साथ शांति चाहता है: ऑपरेशन सिंदूर
  
  

Targets included Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) notorious Muridke headquarters near Lahore, Jaish-e-Mohammad's camps in Bahawalpur and Muzaffarabad, and several launchpads used to infiltrate terrorists into Indian territories.

1. Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur - Residence of Masood Azhar. 1019 Pulwama attack was planned from here.

2. Markaz Taiba, Muridke – LeT Headquarters. 26/11 terrorists were trainer here. Osama bin Laden gave Pak Rs. 10 Lakh for its construction.

3. Sarjal, Sialkot - terrorist behind killing of 4 police personnel in March of 2025.

4. Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot - key Hizbul Mujahideen training camp. Pathankot airbase attack directed from here.

5. Barnala, Bhimber - training centre for IEDs, handling weapons and jungle survival.

6. Abbas, Kotli - nerve centre for training Lashkar-e-Taiba’s suicide bombers.

7. Gulpur, Kotli - base for Lashkar terrorist operating in Rajouri and Poonch. Behind April 20th 2023 punch attack and June 9 attack on pilgrims.

8. Sawai nala, Muzaffarabad - LeT training facility

9. Syedna Bilal, Muzaffarabad – Jaish-e-Mohammad staging area. Also, camp for weapons and explosive training.

India's strikes were executed at the time to minimize civilian presence.

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While India's sorrow was profound, it did not scum to rage or reckless aggression.

Importantly, no civilian or military target or government targets were hit, and this only highlighted India's commitment to target counter-terrorism and not general war.

India did communicate clearly through military channels that its operation was a one-time retaliatory action, not an escalation, and this message was simple that India will respond to terrorism but not provoke war.

But then, unfortunately, Pakistan escalated, and the world saw the 88-hour conflict.

Despite India's calibrated approach, Pakistan retaliated with indiscriminate shelling across the border, killing 19 civilians, and these were Christian nuns, Sikh worshippers, and farmers. 

Over 59 people were injured, and some were grievous injuries.

Pakistan continued to follow this with drones and missile incursions, and this prompted India to respond.

Therefore, on the night of 9th and 10th May, Indian forces struck 11 Pakistani military targets, including an airbase in Rawalpindi, which is just 1.5 km from Pakistan's military headquarters.

1. Nur Khan,

2. Rafiqui,

3. Murid,

4. Sukkur,

5. Sialkot,

6. Pasrur,

7. Chunian,

8. Sargodha,

9. Skaru,

10. Bholari and

11. Jacobabad

It was only after this forceful response that Pakistan initiated contact through Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) hotline, seeking de-escalation.

India agreed immediately, reaffirming that its intention was not war but deterrence.

A message to the terrorists also.

Of course, the 88-hour conflict left scars and sorrow, particularly among civilian populations.

Yet it demonstrated India's solid resolve to protect its people, balanced with a measured and ethical military doctrine.

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Yet international inertia persisted, and that's where the global culpability exists

The Resistance Front, which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre, is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union.

India did submit detailed dossiers to the UN Sanctions Committee, way back in 2023 and 2024, warning about the front's activity.

Yet international inertia persisted, and that's where the global culpability exists.

Worse, at Pakistan's urging, and with China's support, the UN Security Council's press statement omitted any mention of the Resistance Front, and this act of deliberate omission betrayed the very principles the United Nations claims to uphold.

The world must ask, are diplomatic gamesmanship and geopolitical alignments more important than justice for victims of terrorism not just in India, but victims of terrorism across the world?

As anybody's observation, India's position is not aggressive, it is assertive.

It is not about vengeance, it's about justice.

• भारत न्याय के साथ शांति चाहता है: ऑपरेशन सिंदूर
  
  

India continues to advocate for a comprehensive global convention on international terrorism, which unfortunately is stalled at the UN for decades now.

India asked for greater sanction enforcement against terrorist organizations and their state sponsors, and India firmly appeals for an end to the politicization of counterterrorism in multilateral forums.

Today, the Indian government, the opposition, civil society, media, they are all united in this cause, and therefore India seeks support, not sympathy from the global community.

India seeks cooperation, not conflict, and India seeks clarity, not complacency against terrorism.

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With this limited strike, India's message to the world is clear

Despite the bloodshed, India's pluralism, unity, and diversity remains intact.

A country of 1.4 billion people, representing all major religions and hundreds of languages did not fracture in the face of provocation by the terrorists.

That is India's strength.

The story of Kashmiris mourning Hindu victims and Muslim-saving Hindu children represent the true India, a resilient India, inclusive India, and a strong democracy.

India does  have its share of internal problems, some of them are grave ones. But then, today, India is a face of a strong democracy demonstrating to the world its resilience to biggest difference of opinion, still residing with peaceful unity in diversity.

With this limited strike, India's message to the world is clear.

Zero-tolerance for terrorism but India alone is not suffering. Also, that terrorism is just not India’s problem. 

It requires collective resolve, coordinated intelligence sharing, financial crackdowns, and the moral clarity to call out sponsors of the hate without fear or favour.

If you see the list of terror attacks, I had read out earlier, ever since, terrorists seek to sow chaos and division in the society and country. 

• भारत न्याय के साथ शांति चाहता है: ऑपरेशन सिंदूर
  
  

But when communities stand together, as in this case in India, when governments act responsibly, and when the world refuses to look away, terrorism is defeated.

India's response to the Pahalgam attack and the unity of Indians offer a clear blueprint for global resistance to terrorism. 

The togetherness that Indians demonstrated is what is required by the global community.

Though India have responded militarily, there is no prolonged war, because as a policy India, stands for peace.