(Image source from: x.com/rajnathsingh)
More than 100 militants were eliminated in Operation Sindoor, which was India's military reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a briefing for opposition leaders on Thursday afternoon. Singh also issued a warning to Pakistan, which, according to reports, is contemplating its own military actions, urging them not to escalate the situation further. He described Sindoor as an "ongoing operation" and emphasized that India is not seeking additional strikes but will retaliate if attacked by Pakistani forces. The opposition expressed its support for the government in its fight against cross-border terrorism; Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge commented to the media, "We listened to their statements... they mentioned that some details must stay confidential. We assured them, 'the government has our backing'."
The all-party meeting was conducted amicably. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju noted this positivity, stating to reporters that all participants "exhibited maturity and refrained from engaging in disputes." He mentioned that the session aimed to foster a "broad political consensus," and achieved that goal. Government officials revealed on Wednesday evening that 70 terrorists had been killed and pointed out that these strikes had effectively disrupted terrorist networks in the targeted regions. The Sindoor operation lasted 25 minutes and involved precision weaponry, such as the SCALP missile and HAMMER bomb, targeting nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The strikes focused on the headquarters and training facilities of terrorist factions, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. A group associated with Lashkar perpetrated the Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 individuals, largely civilians, while Jaish was responsible for the 2019 Pulwama incident in which 40 soldiers died. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Army stated in a press briefing that the targets were selected based on "reliable intelligence and their engagement in cross-border terrorism." She clarified that no Pakistani military sites were struck, and the operation was deliberately planned to minimize harm to civilians. Accompanying her was Wing Commander Vyomika Singh from the Air Force, who affirmed that the Indian military is prepared for a possible response from the Pakistani military.
This action against terrorist camps in Pakistan occurred two weeks after the tragic shooting in Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist site in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, all men, including a 70-year-old retiree and a Nepalese national. Many victims were shot at close range before their families, sparking global outrage. India has persistently condemned Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism, asserting that it possesses evidence of involvement by the Pakistani deep state. In response, Islamabad rejected these assertions and called for an international investigation. However, during a recent meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the Pakistani government faced challenging inquiries regarding the ongoing operations of terror groups such as Lashkar within its borders. Previously, India had also implemented a series of non-military responses against Pakistan, which included suspending certain visa categories and putting the significant 1960 Indus Waters Treaty on hold.
The Indus Water Treaty allocates the Indus River along with five tributaries between India and Pakistan, supplying almost 80 percent of Pakistan’s agricultural land. The recent suspension has been labeled as ‘an act of war’ by some, leading Pakistan to suspend the 1972 Simla Agreement, which established the Line of Control. Following the Pahalgam incident, Pakistan has engaged in daily cross-border shelling. To date, 13 individuals, including one soldier, have lost their lives as the Pakistani military conducts operations targeting regions such as Uri, Kupwara, Baramulla, and Akhnoor, situated across the Line of Control. The Indian Army is reportedly providing a measured response, according to government sources.
