Breaking: India's Response to Pakistan's Escalation in Pahalgam
Escalation of Indo-Pak tensions hinges on Pakistan's actions, according to India.
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New Delhi echoes: Pakistan decides their next move regarding tensions with India
Pakistan alone has the power to decide whether they plan to further escalate tensions with India, as New Delhi has only responded to the initial escalation of the Pahalgam terror attack and will respond accordingly to further actions by Islamabad, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated on May 7th, 2025. His comments came after Operation Sindoor, an extensive cross-border military operation by India, carried out as retaliation for the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22nd, 2025, which took the lives of 26 innocent civilians.
During a press briefing attended by Col Sofiya Qureshi of the army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the air force, both clad in combat fatigues, Misri underscored that India's military actions were a response to Pakistan's original escalation. "If there is an attempt at further escalation by Pakistan, it will be responded to in an appropriate domain," he said, leaving the choice entirely to Pakistan to make.
Misri also cautioned Pakistan against using allegations about targeting the Neelam-Jhelum hydropower project in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir (PoK) as a pretext to strike Indian infrastructure of a similar nature, stating that Pakistan would be "entirely responsible for the consequences."
Operation Sindoor marked the second briefing by Misri and the two women officers since India's armed forces launched the operation early on May 6th, 2025. The Pakistan government acknowledged the strikes but reserved the right to respond, leading to cross-border shelling and missile attacks from both sides, resulting in casualties and blackouts in some Indian border cities.
Misri declined to provide specific operational details but addressed disinformation allegedly spread by Pakistani officials by stating that Pakistan's leadership has been fabricating stories since its creation in 1947. "When our army and UN officials reached the region, they saw the Pakistan Army had infiltrated. This pattern of lying began 75 years ago," he said.
Misri also highlighted that most countries which contacted India regarding the Pahalgam attack and the ensuing tensions have condemned the incident and acknowledged India's right to respond to these attacks in self-defense and to ensure further de-escalation.
Side Note:
Operation Sindoor saw aggressive strikes on multiple terrorist compounds in Pakistan, specifically those used by groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The operation, involving airstrikes on air defense systems across multiple locations in Pakistan, has been India's most extensive cross-border strike since the 2019 Balakot operation. As of now, it is thought that at least 100 terrorists have been killed during the operation, causing significant damage to terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.
The operation also exposed vulnerabilities in India's air defense capabilities, with reports of at least three fighter jets being lost during the attack. Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft, with their Chinese Chengdu J-10 jets being used in the defense, although Indian confirmations remain limited.
Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling and missile attacks, resulting in casualties and blackouts in some areas like Jammu. The United States, represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has called on Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take concrete steps to end support for terrorist groups and de-escalate the situation further.
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that India has no intention to escalate the situation but warned of a firm response if attacked militarily. This ping-pong of hostility between India and Pakistan, culminating in Operation Sindoor, echoes historical patterns of tension centered on Kashmir, paralleling the 1999 Kargil conflict. As tensions continue to heighten, it remains to be seen what the future holds for both nations.
- The Indian government acknowledged Pakistan's response to India's escalation in Pahalgam, emphasizing they will respond similarly to any further actions from Islamabad.
- Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri cautioned Pakistan against targeting Indian infrastructure, particularly in Kashmir, stating that Pakistan would be liable for the consequences.
- Misri's comments came after India's Operation Sindoor, an extensive military operation targeting terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, caused significant damage to terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.
- The US, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has called on Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to end support for terrorist groups and de-escalate the situation.
- Despite India's warnings, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling and missile attacks, causing casualties and blackouts in some areas like Jammu.
- The ongoing hostility between India and Pakistan, with its roots in the Kashmir issue, parallels historical conflicts, including the 1999 Kargil conflict, and raises questions about the future of relations between the two nations.
