India Exposes Pakistan’s Lies, Defends Action as Legal and Limited to Terror Infrastructure

In a forceful statement on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri affirmed that India’s cross-border strikes under Operation Sindoor were a “measured and precise” response to the barbaric April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians and was claimed by Pakistan-backed terror group The Resistance Front (TRF). “The original escalation was the Pahalgam attack. India’s response was calibrated, restrained, and strictly limited to terrorist infrastructure,” Misri stated during a special media briefing.

India rejected Pakistan’s claims that civilians were targeted in the May 7 strikes. The Foreign Secretary emphasized that all actions were “non-escalatory and carefully targeted.” “No civilian or military installations were hit. The targets were exclusively linked to cross-border terror operations,” he said.

He countered disinformation emerging from Pakistan, pointing out that state funerals were held for the so-called “civilians” killed coffins draped in the Pakistani flag and military honors presented. “This raises the obvious question: why state honors for civilians unless they were combatants?”

India reiterated that TRF, which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-proscribed terrorist organization. Misri noted that Pakistan’s objection to including TRF in a United Nations Security Council statement following the attack further exposes Islamabad’s intent. “TRF took responsibility not once but twice—immediately after the attack and again the next day. The retraction that followed was clearly managed by handlers across the border,” Misri said.

Responding to Islamabad’s call for a joint investigation, Misri reminded the press of Pakistan’s track record of stonewalling justice—citing the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot attacks. “We shared forensic evidence, provided access to sites, gave full cooperation. But every time, Pakistan obstructed justice or used our evidence to protect the guilty,” Misri said.

India had allowed Pakistani investigators to visit Pathankot—the first time such access was granted. Yet, no action was taken against the masterminds, many of whom continue to operate freely in Pakistan.

Contrary to its claims of restraint, Pakistan shelled a Sikh gurdwara and civilian homes in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district during retaliatory fire. At least three civilians were killed in the attack, according to Indian officials. “Pakistan accuses India of targeting religious sites, yet it has bombed a place of worship and civilian homes. This is the reality,” Misri noted.

India reported a total of 16 civilian deaths and 59 injuries from Pakistan’s retaliatory attacks since the morning of May 7.

India also refuted reports that it had targeted Pakistan’s Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.“We categorically deny this. Only terror camps were hit. Any such false narrative is a pretext to target Indian civilian infrastructure—and if Pakistan chooses that path, it will bear full responsibility for the consequences,” Misri warned.

In a significant development, India announced that the Indus Waters Treaty has been placed in abeyance due to Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of terrorism and refusal to renegotiate the terms of the outdated agreement.

Misri said that India had formally sought bilateral negotiations with Pakistan to modernize the treaty in line with today’s technological, demographic, and climate realities. “For over 65 years, India upheld this treaty in good faith—even during wars and provocations. But Pakistan has deliberately blocked our rights and weaponized legal loopholes. Enough is enough,” Misri said.

India’s position is that Pakistan’s refusal to engage in treaty reform, combined with its ongoing support for cross-border terrorism, constitutes a material breach of the agreement’s original intent.

Misri concluded with a call for caution and patience, noting that operational details of Operation Sindoor could not be disclosed at this stage. However, he stressed that India will not tolerate terrorism and will respond decisively to any further provocations.“Our response has been targeted and restrained. But if Pakistan escalates again, India will respond—appropriately and firmly.”