New Delhi:

The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. Misri said, “Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam attack has been clearly established.”

He said that Operation Sindoor, a joint strike by India’s three armed forces on May 6-7, was carried out in response to this brutal act of terrorism.

Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh on Operation Sindoor were also present during the press briefing. 

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday said that the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, was carried out by terrorists associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and had direct support from Pakistan. The attack left 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali citizen dead.

During a press briefing, Misri said, “The terrorists shot the victims in the head in front of their family members and threatened the survivors to pass on the message of terror.” He explained that the main purpose of the attack was to disrupt tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been seeing a strong revival.

What is Operation Sindoor?

Indian government described Operation Sindoor as a measured but firm response to terrorism, aimed only at terror bases and not at any Pakistani military facility. Officials have emphasized that India acted in self-defence and the strike was conducted with precision and responsibility.

India launched a strong response to Pahalgam terror attack through a surgical strike named Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to officials, more than 100 terrorists were killed in a joint operation conducted by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force late on Tuesday night.

Nine terrorist hideouts targeted

The operation targeted nine locations linked to terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The identified camps included:

Bahawalpur (Jaish HQ) – 100 km inside the international border

Muridke Samba opposite border (Lashkar camp) – linked to 26/11 attackers

Gulpur (PoK) – connected to the 2023 Poonch and 2024 bus attacks

Barnala Camp (Rajouri) – 10 km inside LoC

Sarjal Camp (Samba-Kathua) – Jaish camp

Mehmoona Camp (near Sialkot) – Hizbul Mujahideen training base

Sawai Camp (PoJK) – 30 km inside Tangdhar sector

Bilal Camp – Jaish launchpad

Lashkar Kotli Camp (Rajouri) – bombing training centre

These locations were carefully selected for their links to terror attacks and were destroyed in a well-coordinated strike.

PM Modi monitored operation throughout night

Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitored the strike overnight. Before the strike, he held a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday. After the operation was completed, PM Modi’s first meeting on Wednesday morning was again with Doval to review the outcome.

Pahalgam terror attack

In response, PM Modi ended his foreign trip to Saudi Arabia early and returned to India. He then chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, followed by separate meetings with the chiefs of the three armed forces. During these meetings, the Prime Minister gave the military a free hand to act against terrorism.

The decision to strike back was taken following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed. Attackers had reportedly targeted people after asking for their names and religion, leading to nationwide outrage.

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