In a bold reaffirmation of India’s evolving doctrine on cross-border terrorism, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar declared that Operation Sindoor will continue as a clear message to terror outfits and their patrons in Pakistan: there will be consequences for attacks on Indian soil. His remarks came during an interview with Dutch public broadcaster NOS, and reflect a sharp and resolute turn in India’s security and diplomatic posture after the Pahalgam terror strike.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, in retaliation for the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed in a brutal, faith-targeted attack. The offensive struck nine terror-linked sites across Pakistan-administered territories. Over the next four days, both nations exchanged heavy firepower including drones and long-range missiles before a mutual halt to military action was reached on May 10.
“The operation continues because there is a clear message in that operation – if there are acts of the kind we saw on April 22, there will be a response. We will hit the terrorists,” Jaishankar emphasized. He added that India’s counter-terror efforts will not be constrained by geography, indicating that if terrorists operate from Pakistani soil, India will strike them there.
Jaishankar ruled out any role by the United States or other countries in the cessation of military action. “The cessation of firing and military action was something which was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan,” he asserted. He further clarified that while global leaders, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and West Asian leaders, made contact to ease tensions, the ceasefire agreement was a result of direct military-level communication.
“We made it clear to everyone if Pakistan wants to stop fighting, their general must call ours. That’s what happened,” Jaishankar noted.
Jaishankar described May 10 as the decisive turning point in the standoff. In response to Pakistani military escalation, India carried out precision strikes on eight Pakistani airbases, rendering their runways and command centres non-functional.
“That compelled the Pakistani military to accept that we need to stop firing at each other,” Jaishankar said. As a result, a real-time repositioning of forces is underway along the Line of Control (LoC), indicating a new phase in tactical deterrence.
The Attack That Triggered It All
The Pahalgam attack was carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to Indian intelligence and officials, the militants “ascertained the faith” of victims before killing them in front of their families a move aimed at sowing communal discord and crippling Kashmir’s tourism-driven economy.
“This was a barbaric and religiously charged terror act. Deliberately, an element of religion was introduced. It must be seen in the context of Pakistan’s leadership, particularly their army chief’s extreme ideological outlook,” Jaishankar said, referencing recent statements by General Asim Munir invoking the two-nation theory.
Kashmir Not Negotiable, Terror Must End
Jaishankar reiterated India’s firm stance that Kashmir is not on the negotiating table. “The only issues India is willing to discuss with Pakistan are the end of terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied territories,” he stated firmly. Any notions of border redrawing or international mediation are categorically off the table.
Responding to concerns that conflict with China and Pakistan may impede India’s economic rise, Jaishankar dismissed the idea of choosing between national security and development.
“Our security challenges are far more acute than Europe’s. We had to prioritise security, but today we understand that security and economic prosperity are two sides of the same coin,” he said.
Operation Sindoor marks a strategic shift in India’s counter-terror doctrine moving away from defensive restraint to proactive deterrence. The continuation of the operation even without active firing serves as a constant reminder to adversaries that India will not tolerate attacks on its citizens.
As the geopolitical landscape in South Asia evolves, Jaishankar’s remarks underscore India’s intent to shape outcomes on its own terms through strength, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to national security.