MEA Briefing on Operation Sindoor: India’s Precise Strikes, Pakistan’s Terror Links, and Treaty Violations – 10 Key Takeaways You Need to Know

New Delhi, May 8: In a detailed briefing on Operation Sindoor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri provided crucial updates on India’s targeted response to recent provocations from Pakistan, reaffirming India’s commitment to regional stability while exposing Pakistan’s continued support for terror outfits.

Misri clarified that India’s military action was a measured and non-escalatory response, aimed solely at dismantling terror infrastructure within Pakistan. The attack was in response to the April 22 terrorist strike in Pahalgam, which he labeled as the original escalation.

Here are the key takeaways from the MEA press briefing:

1. Non-Escalatory Response:
   Vikram Misri emphasized that India’s response was non-escalatory, precise, and considered. “Our intention has not been to escalate matters,” he said, underlining that only terrorist infrastructure was targeted in Pakistan.
2. Retaliation to Pahalgam Attack:
   The Indian Armed Forces’ actions on May 7 were a retaliation to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which was carried out by The Resistance Front, a known front for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
3. Denial of NSA-level Contact:
   Responding to Pakistan Deputy PM Ishaq Dar’s claim that National Security Advisors (NSAs) of both countries were in touch, Misri stated, “I have no information with regards to contacts between the two NSAs.”
4. Indus Water Treaty Review:
   Misri reiterated that fundamental changes in the conditions under which the Indus Water Treaty was signed require a reassessment. India has honored the treaty for over six decades, whereas Pakistan has repeatedly violated it. India has been in communication with Pakistan over the past two years, requesting negotiations.
5. Pakistan’s Role in Terrorism:
   The Foreign Secretary slammed Pakistan for trying to “wash its hands of terrorism.” He pointed out that Pakistani officials continue to deny the presence of terrorists despite overwhelming international evidence.
6. Targeted Attacks on Sikh Community:
   Misri accused Pakistan of launching a targeted attack on the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir on May 7, hitting a gurdwara and civilian homes in Poonch, killing at least three individuals.
7. Civilian Casualties Due to Pakistani Firing:
   Since the retaliatory actions, 16 civilians have died and 59 injured due to Pakistan’s unprovoked firing along the LoC, using mortars and heavy-caliber artillery in regions like Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri.
8. Pakistan’s Retaliatory Strikes:
   Colonel Sofiya Qureshi confirmed that on the night of May 7–8, Pakistan launched attacks on Indian military sites in Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana, even though India had not initially targeted Pakistani military sites.
9. Ministry of Defence Statement:
   Misri deferred detailed operational commentary to the Ministry of Defence, noting that the press release issued earlier stands and further updates will be shared as the situation evolves.
10. Neutralising Pakistan’s Missile Defence System in Lahore:
    A journalist asked that according to reports, Lahore has been stripped of its missile defence system in the recent retaliatory attacks by India. Does this mean, future strikes on Lahore will be easier, given that the missile defence cover has been lost? To this the Foreign Secretary strictly replied that he was not the right person on this to speak and such questions should not be asked in the interest of the armed forces’ planning.

VIDEO | MEA Press Briefing on #OperationSindoor: "Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the LoC using mortar and heavy-caliber artilleries in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir. 16 innocent… pic.twitter.com/eGrFSYdyeh

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2025

As tensions remain high, Indian authorities reaffirm their intent to act with precision while holding Pakistan accountable for its continuing involvement in terrorism and violations of international treaties.