Pahalgam terror attack linked to Pakistani military leadership, says Jaishankar
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Pahalgam terror attack linked to Pakistani military leadership, says Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has linked the recent terror attack in Pahalgam to what he described as the ‘extreme religious outlook’ of Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir. The terror attack has reignited concerns over the role of religious extremism in cross-border terrorism. Indian authorities see the attack as a calculated move not only to instil fear but also to disrupt the fragile peace and economic recovery.
In a sharp statement during an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS, Jaishankar said: “Tourists were murdered in front of their families after ascertaining their faith, and it was done in a way in which it was intended to harm tourism, which is the mainstay of the Kashmir economy, and to create a religious discord. Deliberately, an element of religion was introduced.”
The terror attack in the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir has reignited concerns over the role of religious extremism in cross-border terrorism. Indian authorities see the attack as a calculated move not only to instil fear but also to disrupt the fragile peace and economic recovery in the region.
Jaishankar said that such acts of terror are not isolated, but rather influenced by Pakistan’s military leadership. “And to understand that, you’ve got to also see the Pakistani side — you have a Pakistani leadership, especially their army chief, who is driven by an extreme religious outlook, so there is clearly some connect between the views that were expressed and the behaviour that was done,” he said.
Operation Sindoor: India Strikes Back After Pahalgam Attack, Vows to Eliminate Terror Threats Across Borders
On April 22, a gruesome act of violence unfolded in the scenic town of Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were reportedly killed in a targeted terrorist attack. According to Indian intelligence and subsequent government statements, the victims were identified and attacked specifically for their religious identity as Hindus. India launched a decisive counter-operation titled “Operation Sindoor” on May 7. The military initiative has reportedly targeted multiple terrorist hideouts across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), reaffirming India’s no-tolerance policy toward terrorism. India also drew a diplomatic red line: no resumption of talks with Pakistan unless it dismantles the terror support system operating from its soil, said External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. The operation aims to dismantle the infrastructure that enables cross-border terrorism, said a senior Indian defense official. Experts suggest the operation is a warning to state-sponsored terrorism, not just from Pakistan but from any neighboring entities considering proxy war tactics against India.
This bold action has been accompanied by a politically charged and diplomatically firm statement from India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who not only condemned the attack but held Pakistan and its military leadership directly accountable.
The Catalyst: Pahalgam Massacre of Civilians
On April 22, a gruesome act of violence unfolded in the scenic town of Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were reportedly killed in a targeted terrorist attack. According to Indian intelligence and subsequent government statements, the victims were identified and attacked specifically for their religious identity as Hindus—a chilling return to the dark days of religiously motivated violence in the region.
Speaking to Dutch media outlet NOS, Dr. Jaishankar stated,
“We have irrefutable evidence that the 26 civilians in Pahalgam were murdered solely because of their faith. This attack was not just an act of terrorism—it was a religiously driven hate crime.”
He further revealed that the attackers had confirmed the victims’ religious identity before executing them in front of their families.
India’s Response: Launch of Operation Sindoor
In retaliation, Operation Sindoor was initiated on May 7. Though official details are limited due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing operation, it is understood that precision strikes were carried out on terrorist camps located in PoK and parts of Pakistan. The operation aims to dismantle the infrastructure that enables cross-border terrorism.
Jaishankar clarified the motivation and message behind the operation:
“Operation Sindoor is not just a counter-attack; it’s a strategic warning. If we witness incidents like April 22 again, there will be consequences. Terrorists, wherever they are—be it in Pakistan or PoK—will be eliminated.”
Jaishankar’s Direct Accusation: Pakistan’s Religious Radicalism
In an unflinching indictment of Pakistan’s leadership, Jaishankar named General Asim Munir, the Pakistani Army Chief, as a radical religious ideologue who fuels extremist sentiments.
“Pakistan’s military leadership today is not just a regional destabilizer—it is a threat to global stability,” said Jaishankar. “Their radicalized religious mindset is reflected in the support and protection they provide to terrorist elements.”
The Minister emphasized that India’s counter-strategy would remain “precise, just, and unyielding”, signaling that New Delhi will no longer entertain traditional diplomatic hesitation when national security is at stake.
Indian Officials: Operation Will Continue
Government and intelligence officials, speaking anonymously to various outlets, have confirmed that Operation Sindoor is ongoing, and not a one-time strike. The operation is designed as a long-term strategic response, aimed at neutralizing terror threats systematically.
“We are not simply exchanging fire at the border. This is not symbolic. It’s a focused military engagement against terrorism infrastructure,” said a senior Indian defense official.
This shift in India’s tactical doctrine represents a significant evolution from reactive policy to proactive elimination of threats.
No Dialogue Until Terror Ends, Says India
Dr. Jaishankar also drew a diplomatic red line: no resumption of talks with Pakistan unless it dismantles the terror support system operating from its soil.
“There can be no bilateral discussions as long as Pakistan continues to harbor and fund terrorist organizations. Dialogue cannot coexist with terror,” he asserted.
This position aligns with India’s long-standing demand that Pakistan take visible, verifiable, and irreversible steps to eliminate terrorism before peace talks can resume.
Strategic Implications: What Operation Sindoor Signals to the World
India’s assertive posture under Operation Sindoor not only serves as a response to a singular terror attack—it is also a broader geopolitical signal. Experts suggest the operation is a warning to state-sponsored terrorism, not just from Pakistan but from any neighboring entities considering proxy war tactics.
According to a retired Indian Army general,
“Operation Sindoor is India’s version of pre-emptive counter-terrorism. It’s a message that terrorism will not be tolerated, and sponsors will be held accountable.”
The Global Context: From Kargil to Balakot to Sindoor
India’s security doctrine has been gradually evolving since the Kargil War in 1999, through the surgical strikes of 2016, and the Balakot air strikes in 2019. Operation Sindoor is a natural extension of this trajectory, reaffirming that India now responds with force and strategy.
Public and Political Response Within India
The Indian public, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir and other terrorism-affected regions, has broadly welcomed the government’s bold response. Social media platforms have shown a surge in support with hashtags like #OperationSindoor, #JusticeForPahalgam, and #IndiaStrikesBack trending across Twitter and Instagram.
Political parties across the spectrum, barring some isolated criticisms, have largely supported the operation, uniting over the demand for national security.
What Next? The Road Ahead for India-Pakistan Relations
With diplomatic ties already strained, Operation Sindoor marks a deepening of the strategic rift between India and Pakistan. Analysts suggest that unless there is substantial action from Pakistan to dismantle terror networks, diplomatic normalization is off the table.
“This isn’t just about Pahalgam,” said an Indian foreign policy expert. “It’s about dismantling a decades-old terror ecosystem.”
Related
Jaishankar links Pak Army chief’s ‘extreme religious outlook’ to Pahalgam attack
S Jaishankar has linked Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir’s “extreme religious outlook” to the attack in Pahalgam a month ago, where Lashkar terrorists killed 25 tourists on the basis of their religion. He said the attack was a “barbaric” act aimed at crippling tourism in Kashmir and inciting religious discord. The External Affairs Minister underscored that India had already alerted the United Nations years ago about The Resistance Front – an offshoot of Lashkar that claimed responsibility for the attack. On President Donald Trump’s repeated claim that the United States helped broker the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, he stressed that New Delhi and Islamabad “directly negotiated” the ceasefire. He also said that several countries, not only the US, were in touch with India during the hostilities with Pakistan.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, Jaishankar said the attack in Pahalgam was a “barbaric” act aimed at crippling tourism in Kashmir and inciting religious discord.
RELIGIOUS TINT TO PAHALGAM ATTACK
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“Twenty-six people were murdered in front of their families after ascertaining their faith. It was done in a way intended to harm tourism, which is the mainstay of the Kashmir economy,” Jaishankar said.
Explaining what according to him triggered the attack, the minister said, “To understand that, you have to see that on the Pakistani side, especially their Army chief, who is driven by an extreme religious outlook. There is clearly some connection between the views that were expressed and the manner the attack was carried out.”
Days before the Pahalgam attack, Munir, who has been promoted as Field Marshal, provoked India by raking up the two-nation theory – the ideological basis for Pakistan’s creation – and called on Pakistani citizens to teach their children that they are “different from Hindus”. He also called the Kashmir issue Pakistan’s “jugular vein”.
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In another interview with a Dutch newspaper, Jaishankar said the terrorists deliberately gave the Pahalgam attack a very religious tint.
“The terrorists targeted the vibrant tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir with their attack. So they are prepared to destroy things in Kashmir for their own, very limited, selfish purposes. They also deliberately gave the attack a very religious tint,” he said.
The External Affairs Minister underscored that India had already alerted the United Nations years ago about The Resistance Front – an offshoot of Lashkar that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.
“The TRF took responsibility for the attack. It has been on our radar for a number of years. Well before the April 22 attack, we had drawn the attention of the United Nations and the global community to this outfit. We know the command centres and those areas we targeted,” he said.
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam attack, destroying nine terror camps linked to Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammed, and killing around 100 terrorists.
JAISHANKAR ON TRUMP’S CEASEFIRE CLAIM
On President Donald Trump’s repeated claim that the United States helped broker the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Jaishankar stressed that New Delhi and Islamabad “directly negotiated” the ceasefire.
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The Union Minister made it clear that several countries, not only the US, were in touch with India during the hostilities with Pakistan. He said the nations were promptly told that Pakistan would have to communicate with India directly if it wanted a ceasefire.
“The ceasefire was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan. We told everyone, including the US, that if they want an understanding, they have to talk to us directly. “And that’s why it happened,” Jaishankar said.
When prodded further by the interviewer about the US’s role, if any, the minister wryly said, “The US was in the United States.”
India has maintained that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called his Indian counterpart on May 10, hours after the armed forces struck 11 military bases, to end the hostilities.
Published By: sharangee Published On: May 22, 2025
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‘If the terrorists are in Pakistan, we will hit them where they are’: Jaishankar
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 that killed 26 civilians. This triggered four days of intense clashes, with both sides using drones, missiles and long-range weapons. The two sides agreed to halt military actions on May 10 after Indian strikes “compelled the Pakistani military to accept that we need to stop firing at each other” S Jaishankar ruled out any US role in this understanding or in any possible talks with Pakistan. He said it was “impossible” for the Indian government to not respond to the Pahsalgam attack, which was carried out by The Resistance Front, a proxy for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) The attack was intended to harm tourism, which is the mainstay of Kashmir’s economy, and to “create a religious discord”, Jaishanksar said. The Indian side initially targeted nine locations that are listed by the UN as terrorist centres, and then responded when Pakistani military “chose to fire on us”
Jaishankar reiterated during an interview with Dutch public broadcaster NOS that the May 10 understanding on halting military actions was reached bilaterally by India and Pakistan after Indian strikes “compelled the Pakistani military to accept that we need to stop firing at each other”. He ruled out any US role in this understanding or in any possible talks with Pakistan.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 that killed 26 civilians, targeting terrorist infrastructure at nine sites in territories controlled by Pakistan. This triggered four days of intense clashes, with both sides using drones, missiles and long-range weapons, before the two sides agreed to halt military actions.
“The operation continues because there is a clear message in that operation – that if there are acts of the kind we saw on April 22, there will be a response, that we will hit the terrorists,” Jaishankar said about Operation Sindoor, which, Indian officials had said earlier, has not concluded.
“If the terrorists are in Pakistan, we will hit them where they are. So, there is a message in continuing the operation but continuing the operation is not the same as firing on each other. Right now, there is an agreed cessation of fighting and military action,” he added.
Asked if the operation was dormant, he replied: “Put whatever word you want to, but I can tell you the message is clear and the message is act.”
The fighting was “triggered by a very barbaric terrorist attack” in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people were “murdered in front of their families after ascertaining their faith”. The attack was intended to harm tourism, which is the mainstay of Kashmir’s economy, and to “create a religious discord”, Jaishankar said.
“Deliberately, an element of religion was introduced and to understand that you’ve got to see that on the Pakistani side, you have a Pakistani leadership, especially the army chief, who’s very driven by an extreme religious outlook. There is clearly some connect between the views that were expressed and the behavior that was done,” he said, referring to Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir’s remarks about the two-nation theory a week before the Pahalgam attack.
Jaishankar said it was “impossible” for the Indian government to not respond to the Pahalgam attack, which was carried out by The Resistance Front, a proxy for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). “It was imperative that we have a response because the lack of response…was impossible in such a situation…Our government is very clear that if there is such an attack, there will be a response,” he said.
The Indian side initially targeted nine locations that are listed by the UN as terrorist centres, and then responded when the Pakistani military “chose to fire on us”, Jaishankar said. The “decisive day” was May 10, when India responded to a Pakistani attack by hitting eight Pakistani airbases and making them non-functional by targeting runways and command centres, he said.
“That I think compelled the Pakistani military to accept that we need to stop firing at each other. Now what has happened is that, at the moment, there is no firing and there’s been some repositioning of forces accordingly,” he said.
Jaishankar responded to several questions about the role of the US, particularly President Donald Trump’s claims about brokering a truce between India and Pakistan, by saying that the May 10 understanding was reached bilaterally.
Jaishankar said US secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke to him while vice president JD Vance called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and there were also contacts by leaders of countries in West Asia and other regions aimed at reducing tensions. “When two countries are engaged in a conflict, it is natural that countries in the world call up and…try to sort of indicate their concern…but the cessation of firing and military action was something which was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan,” he said.
“We made one thing very clear to everybody who spoke to us, not just the US but to everybody, saying if the Pakistanis want to stop fighting, they need to tell us. We need to hear it from them. Their general has to call up our general and say this. And that is what happened,” he added.
Jaishankar said the only issues India is willing to discuss with Pakistan is ending terrorism and the return of the part of Kashmir illegally occupied by the neighbouring country. The borders in Kashmir are not up for negotiation “because Kashmir is part of India”, he said.
Responding to a question about India being held back economically because of conflicts on the borders with China and Pakistan, Jaishankar said: “Our security challenges were far more threatening than yours [Europe’s], so we had to prioritise security. You don’t choose between security and economic prosperity. Today, you are realising that they are part of the same coin.”
Source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/May/22/pahalgam-terror-attack-linked-to-pakistani-military-leadership-says-jaishankar
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