Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday termed the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack as a concerted attempt to undermine the return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and create a climate that encourages continued cross-border terrorism from Pakistan.
In a press conference with Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Indian Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Misri discussed the reason behind Operation Sindoor. The operation saw Indian military troops striking nine major terror targets deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
"On April 22, 2025, Pakistani terrorists, including Pakistan-trained ones, belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba group, launched a horrific attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Twenty-five Indians and one Nepali citizen were brutally murdered," Misri said.
Comparing the attack with the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Misri said, "This attack is one of the most brutal in terms of civilian casualties since the Mumbai attacks in November 2008."
Detailing the savagery of the Pahalgam attack, he further said, "The victims were shot in the head at point-blank range, in front of their families. This savage killing was done with the express intention of traumatizing the family members, who were also told to return and disseminate this message."
Misri pointed out the strategic reasons underlying the attack, observing, "The main intention of this act was to sabotage the restoration of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, especially as tourism was becoming an important component of the local economy. This attack was obviously intended to undermine that."
Considering the economic factors, Misri further said, "Many of you would be knowing that this year more than 2.25 crore tourists had come to Kashmir. The target of the attack would probably have been to keep the Union Territory frozen, check its progress, and allow for the continuity of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan."
Following the Pahalgam attack, India conducted Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure run by Pakistan-based groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and its ally, The Resistance Front.
The operation targeted camps and logistics centers thought to have played a role in plotting and conducting the attack.
Misri stressed the measured nature of India's military response, terming it as "measured, calibrated, and non-escalatory."
He made it clear once again that the intention of Indian strikes was merely to destroy terror infrastructure so as not to do any harm to civilians or economic targets.
"The Indian forces conducted targeted operations. The idea was to erase terrorism without leaving room for retaliation," Misri added.
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