“Joint Probe Not Acceptable, IWT To Remain Abeyance Till Terror Ends”
New Delhi: Stating that Pakistan has a reputation of being a “centre of global terrorism,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Thursday said that terrorists killed during “Operation Sindoor” were given state funerals in the neighbouring country.
Addressing a joint briefing here, Misri said that Pakistan remains a “global epicenter of terrorism,” and revealed that terrorists killed in “Operation Sindoor” were given state funerals by the Pakistani establishment, with Pakistani Army personnel and other officials seen attending their burials. He displayed a picture of the funeral that he referred to.
Misri blamed Pakistan for escalating tensions in the region through its continued support to terrorism, citing the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam in South Kashmir, which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists dead, as the origin of the latest flare-up.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack the Indian Armed Forces on Wednesday launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, carrying out precision strikes on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
He said India’s retaliatory strikes under “Operation Sindoor” were non-escalatory and targeted only terror infrastructure with surgical precision. “The escalation started with the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which was claimed twice by The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba. After realizing the gravity of the situation, they retracted. But their claim stands documented,” said Misri.
He highlighted that India’s intention is not to escalate matters, and the armed forces are only responding to the escalation.
He also added that no military targets have been targeted and only terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan has been hit. “Now if there is an attempt at further escalation by Pakistan, it will be responded to in an appropriate domain and therefore the choices entirely that of Pakistan to make,” Misri asserted.
He condemned Pakistan’s attempts to whitewash its complicity in terrorism, noting how Islamabad had opposed the mention of the terror organisation The Resistance Force (TRF) in the United Nations Security Council statement regarding the Pahalgam terror attack.
He dismissed Pakistan’s claims that it had downed Indian jets. “The claims are baseless propaganda. These are a part of a long-standing pattern of misinformation. Pakistan has been resorting to falsehoods since its inception in 1947, including its denial of involvement in the invasion of Jammu and Kashmir before the United Nations. There is nothing surprising in it. After all, this is a country that started lying as soon as it was born. In 1947, when the Pakistani army claimed Jammu and Kashmir, they lied not to any random person but to the United Nations that we have nothing to do with it. So this journey started 75 years ago.”
Referring to the recent statement of Pakistan foreign minister that there are no terrorists in the country, the Foreign Secretary said, “This is the same country where Osama bin Laden was found, and whom their leadership called a ‘martyr’. Their ministers, past and present, including the Defence and Foreign Ministers, have publicly acknowledged their country’s involvement in sponsoring terrorism,” Misri said.
Clarifying India’s response to the Pahalgam attack, Misri asserted that the May 7 operation was precise and targeted only terror infrastructure. “No military installations were attacked. The aim was not to escalate tensions but to dismantle the infrastructure enabling cross-border terrorism,” he said.
He also rebutted Pakistan’s narrative that only civilians were killed, stating, “Individuals eliminated were active terrorists. Their funerals were attended by Pakistan Army soldiers. These were not civilians.”
Misri added that India deliberately refrained from attacking any civilian or critical infrastructure. “Claims of damage to the Neelum-Jhelum Dam are baseless. It was never targeted. If this claim is used as a pretext to strike Indian infrastructure, Pakistan will be held fully responsible for the consequences.”
Misri expressed concern over Pakistan’s attempt to communalize the conflict, referring to the communal undertones in statements made by the Pakistani Army Chief and the religious profiling linked to the Pahalgam attack.
He reiterated that Indians of all faiths stand united against terrorism and condemned Pakistan’s misuse of religious sites to train terrorists. “The Pakistan Army even attacked a gurdwara in Poonch and killed three members of the Sikh community. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Responding to Pakistan’s call for a joint investigation into the Pahalgam attack, Misri reminded that India had cooperated during the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2016 Pathankot attack, even allowing Pakistani officials access and sharing evidence. “Pakistan stonewalled all efforts and used the information to defend terrorists. We no longer trust Pakistan’s intent,” he said,.
Touching on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the Foreign Secretary disclosed that India has put the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan ends its support for terrorism. “India has upheld the treaty’s spirit for over six decades, even during war. But Pakistan has consistently violated it, refusing to engage in meaningful discussions on its modernization,” he said, referring to the treaty’s outdated reliance on 1950s-era engineering.
Highlighting the international response, Misri said that every major diplomatic mission around the world recognized and condemned the Pahalgam attack, with countries like the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar appreciating India’s restraint and responsible conduct.
“India’s Executive Director at the IMF will raise concerns about Pakistan’s duplicity. Let those who choose to open their purses for Pakistan also open their eyes to its record,” he added.
Misri warned that any attempt by Pakistan to escalate the situation will be met with a strong response. “We have made our position clear. Pakistan escalated first, and we have responded with maturity and clarity. Any further provocation will be dealt with appropriately,” he said.
Asked about reports of contact between the NSAs of India and Pakistan, the Foreign Secretary said, “I have no information with regard to contacts between the two National Security Advisors.” Replying to a query about India was considering severing diplomatic ties with Pakistan entirely, Misri emphasised that “nothing further from the decision already spelt out by the government.”
