Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 8: India on Thursday issued a stern warning to Pakistan, stating that any further attempt to escalate the situation would be met with an "appropriate response." Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, speaking at a media briefing in New Delhi on Operation Sindoor, emphasized that Pakistan would bear full responsibility for any consequences arising from further actions.
“If there is an attempt at further escalation by Pakistan, it will be responded to in an appropriate domain. The choice is entirely Pakistan's to make,” Misri stated. He also condemned the disinformation campaign being waged against India, which followed the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22.
Misri stressed that the "original escalation" had come from Pakistan with the terror attack, and India was merely responding to it. He rejected Pakistan’s claims about India targeting the Neelum-Jhelum dam project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, labeling the accusations as "absolutely fabricated" and "a blatant lie." He reaffirmed that India had only targeted terrorist infrastructure, and warned that any pretext to target Indian infrastructure would have severe consequences for Pakistan.
Further addressing Pakistan's efforts to alter international narratives, Misri mentioned Pakistan's pressure to remove references to The Resistance Front (TRF)—the Pakistan-based terror group responsible for the Pahalgam attack—from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) press statement. He pointed out that TRF had openly claimed responsibility for the attack on April 22 and again on April 23, only retracting their statements after realizing the full impact of the attack. Misri made it clear that this retraction did not change the facts.
TRF, a front for the UN-proscribed terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been a significant player in terrorism, and India has previously highlighted its connections with other Pakistan-based terrorist groups in UN reports.
Misri also reminded the world of Pakistan’s long history as a hub of global terrorism. He referenced the discovery of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan and the country's harboring of several UN-proscribed terrorists. Misri also noted that Pakistan's Defense Minister and former Foreign Minister had openly acknowledged their country's involvement with terror groups.
Earlier in the day, the Indian Armed Forces targeted air defense radars and systems at multiple locations in Pakistan. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that an air defense system in Lahore had been neutralized in the operation.
India’s firm stance continues as tensions between the two countries remain high, following the Pahalgam attack and the ongoing global spotlight on Pakistan's support for terrorist groups.