India has defended its air strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, calling them a direct response to cross-border terrorism and a necessary act to prevent further loss of life. “Terrorist infrastructure India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but of many other innocents around world,” said Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, at a press briefing on Tuesday.
He noted that the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, which targeted Indian and foreign tourists, was the immediate provocation behind the military action. According to the MEA, the groups behind the attack had links to Lashkar-e-Taiba and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), which had twice claimed responsibility before retracting under pressure from handlers.
Ceasefire came only after Indian air strikes
The ceasefire between India and Pakistan, reached on 10 May, came only after India struck strategic air force bases across the border.
“You will of course appreciate that early on (May) 10th morning, we had mounted an extremely effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases. That was the reason they were now willing to stop firing and military action. Let me be clear. It was the force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing,” Jaiswal said.
The communication between both countries’ military officials to establish a ceasefire took shape after technical hurdles were resolved. “The specific date, time and wording of the understanding was worked out between the DGMOs of the two countries at their phone call on 10 May 2025 commencing 1535 hrs. The request for this call was received by the MEA from the Pakistani High Commission at 1237 hrs,” Jaiswal added.
Also Read: 'Dhol bajane ka Pakistan ka purana ravaiyya hai': Look at who called whom to end hostilities, says MEA
India's policy on Kashmir remains unchanged
The MEA firmly restated India’s longstanding position on the status of Jammu and Kashmir. Jaiswal said, “We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally, that stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.”
He further said that the only conversation India is willing to have with Pakistan on Kashmir is about the return of these territories.
Pakistan must abandon terror support for dialogue to resume
India also announced that the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended. This decision, originally taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 23, was made clear again in the briefing.
“The other day, you saw that after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision, the Indus Water Treaty has been put in abeyance. I would also like to take you back a little. The Indus Water Treaty was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship, as specified in the preamble of the treaty. However, Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by its promotion of cross-border terrorism for several decades now. As per the CCS decision of April 23, India will keep the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border terrorism,” said Jaiswal.
Also Read: Our military action entirely in conventional domain: MEA on Trump's speculation on nuclear conflict between India, Pak
New normal in relations with Pakistan, says MEA
India is making it clear that military restraint will follow only if Pakistan stops firing first. “However, if the Pakistani armed forces fire, Indian armed forces will fire back; if Pakistan stops, India will also stop. This was also the message that was conveyed to the Pakistani side at the time of the commencement of Operation Sindoor, which was not heeded to by the Pakistani side at that time,” Jaiswal added.
He underlined that this message was also conveyed in India’s communications with world leaders. “As regards conversations with other nations, the message from India was clear and consistent. And exactly the same message that we were conveying from public platforms was the one conveyed in private conversations.”
Jaiswal noted that India had acted strictly within the conventional military domain. He dismissed outside concerns about escalation. “Our military action was entirely in conventional domain,” he said in response to speculation raised internationally.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing Indian forces at Adampur Air Base, praised the successful completion of the operation. He said the chant of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" is the living spirit of India’s soldiers, echoing both in battlefields and behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, the MEA also responded to Pakistani claims of victory. Jaiswal said, “...Claiming victory is an old habit. They did the same in 1971, 1975 and 1999 Kargil War. Dhol bajane ka Paksitan ka purana ravaiyya hai. Parast ho jaye lekin dhol bajao...”
He concluded the briefing with a pointed remark: “Pakistan nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale.” And as per India, the response it delivered was not just justified—but overdue.
Also Read: IWT suspension, Trump's 'stopped nuclear war' claims countered & more: Key highlights from MEA briefing amid Indo-Pak tensions
He noted that the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, which targeted Indian and foreign tourists, was the immediate provocation behind the military action. According to the MEA, the groups behind the attack had links to Lashkar-e-Taiba and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), which had twice claimed responsibility before retracting under pressure from handlers.
Ceasefire came only after Indian air strikes
The ceasefire between India and Pakistan, reached on 10 May, came only after India struck strategic air force bases across the border.
“You will of course appreciate that early on (May) 10th morning, we had mounted an extremely effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases. That was the reason they were now willing to stop firing and military action. Let me be clear. It was the force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing,” Jaiswal said.
The communication between both countries’ military officials to establish a ceasefire took shape after technical hurdles were resolved. “The specific date, time and wording of the understanding was worked out between the DGMOs of the two countries at their phone call on 10 May 2025 commencing 1535 hrs. The request for this call was received by the MEA from the Pakistani High Commission at 1237 hrs,” Jaiswal added.
Also Read: 'Dhol bajane ka Pakistan ka purana ravaiyya hai': Look at who called whom to end hostilities, says MEA
India's policy on Kashmir remains unchanged
The MEA firmly restated India’s longstanding position on the status of Jammu and Kashmir. Jaiswal said, “We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally, that stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.”
He further said that the only conversation India is willing to have with Pakistan on Kashmir is about the return of these territories.
Pakistan must abandon terror support for dialogue to resume
India also announced that the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended. This decision, originally taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 23, was made clear again in the briefing.
“The other day, you saw that after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision, the Indus Water Treaty has been put in abeyance. I would also like to take you back a little. The Indus Water Treaty was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship, as specified in the preamble of the treaty. However, Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by its promotion of cross-border terrorism for several decades now. As per the CCS decision of April 23, India will keep the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border terrorism,” said Jaiswal.
Also Read: Our military action entirely in conventional domain: MEA on Trump's speculation on nuclear conflict between India, Pak
New normal in relations with Pakistan, says MEA
India is making it clear that military restraint will follow only if Pakistan stops firing first. “However, if the Pakistani armed forces fire, Indian armed forces will fire back; if Pakistan stops, India will also stop. This was also the message that was conveyed to the Pakistani side at the time of the commencement of Operation Sindoor, which was not heeded to by the Pakistani side at that time,” Jaiswal added.
He underlined that this message was also conveyed in India’s communications with world leaders. “As regards conversations with other nations, the message from India was clear and consistent. And exactly the same message that we were conveying from public platforms was the one conveyed in private conversations.”
Jaiswal noted that India had acted strictly within the conventional military domain. He dismissed outside concerns about escalation. “Our military action was entirely in conventional domain,” he said in response to speculation raised internationally.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing Indian forces at Adampur Air Base, praised the successful completion of the operation. He said the chant of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" is the living spirit of India’s soldiers, echoing both in battlefields and behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, the MEA also responded to Pakistani claims of victory. Jaiswal said, “...Claiming victory is an old habit. They did the same in 1971, 1975 and 1999 Kargil War. Dhol bajane ka Paksitan ka purana ravaiyya hai. Parast ho jaye lekin dhol bajao...”
He concluded the briefing with a pointed remark: “Pakistan nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale.” And as per India, the response it delivered was not just justified—but overdue.
Also Read: IWT suspension, Trump's 'stopped nuclear war' claims countered & more: Key highlights from MEA briefing amid Indo-Pak tensions
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