In a resolute response to the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India conducted targeted counter-terror operations on May 7, 2025, dismantling terror infrastructure across the border. The precise, non-escalatory strikes underscore India’s unwavering commitment to eradicating cross-border terrorism and ensuring national security.
By New Delhi Post Desk
Pahalgam Attack: A Barbaric Assault
New Delhi: On April 22, 2025, Pakistan-backed terrorists affiliated with the UN-proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), executed a brutal attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The assault, which claimed 26 lives, including Indian tourists and a Nepali citizen, aimed to destabilize the region’s restored normalcy, disrupt its thriving tourism sector—recording over 1.25 crore visitors in 2024—and incite communal tensions. Evidence, including TRF’s claim of responsibility and LeT-linked social media amplification, confirmed Pakistan’s complicity.
Operation Sindoor: Targeted and Proportional
On May 7, 2025, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” a coordinated effort by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to neutralize nine terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Conducted from Indian soil, the strikes targeted key terror infrastructure, including Jaish-e-Mohammed’s headquarters in Bahawalpur and LeT’s base in Muridke, linked to the Pahalgam attack. Using advanced weaponry like SCALP cruise missiles, HAMMER precision-guided bombs, and loitering munitions, the operations adhered to international norms of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, avoiding engagement with Pakistani military installations.
Pakistan’s Ceasefire Violations and Civilian Toll
In retaliation, Pakistani forces shelled civilian villages along the Line of Control (LoC) on May 7, killing seven, including a woman and two children, and injuring 38. Poonch district reported the highest casualties, with seven deaths and 25 injuries, followed by ten in Uri and three in Rajouri. The Indian Army responded proportionately to these ceasefire violations, which mark the 13th consecutive night of aggression since the Pahalgam attack, highlighting Pakistan’s disregard for the 2021 ceasefire agreement.
Diplomatic Efforts to Expose Pakistan’s Duplicity
India has consistently raised Pakistan’s terror sponsorship on global platforms. In 2024, submissions to the UN’s 1267 Committee detailed Pakistan’s use of proxy groups like TRF and its sheltering of proscribed terrorists, such as Sajid Mir, falsely declared dead. Despite these efforts, Pakistan pressured the UNSC to exclude TRF from its April 25, 2025, condemnation of the Pahalgam attack. India continues to urge the international community, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), to hold Pakistan accountable for its inaction against terror hubs.
Government’s Resolve and Public Assurance
Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah reaffirmed India’s stance, stating, “Cross-border terrorism will not be tolerated. Operation Sindoor sends a clear message: those who harm India will face justice. We stand with the resilient people of Jammu & Kashmir, ensuring their safety and security.” The government has enhanced security protocols for tourists and residents, closed schools, and evacuated vulnerable villages along the LoC to mitigate risks from Pakistan’s aggression.
Global Support and the Path Ahead
The UNSC’s April 25 statement condemning the Pahalgam attack reflects global solidarity against terrorism. India has briefed allies, including the US, UK, and Russia, on its counter-terror operations, receiving calls for restraint and de-escalation. Moving forward, India will strengthen intelligence coordination, bolster regional security, and pursue diplomatic isolation of Pakistan until verifiable action against terror groups is undertaken, ensuring a terror-free future for Jammu & Kashmir and beyond.