THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, May 8: India has sharply slammed Pakistan’s escalating hostility and accused it of glorifying terrorism, following a series of targeted attacks by Indian forces on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing a joint press conference on Thursday, said that Pakistan initiated this round of escalation with the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. He called India’s reaction “controlled, precise, measured, considered, and non-escalatory.” He added, “We do not seek escalation, but if provoked further, our response will remain appropriate to the domain of the provocation.”
The Indian government reiterated that its operations—launched early Wednesday under Operation Sindoor—were non-escalatory, restrained, and focused solely on terror-linked infrastructure.
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Pakistan’s Terror Ties Condemned
Misri emphasized that it was Pakistan that initiated this cycle of escalation with the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, for which The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility twice. Yet, when the matter was raised at the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan opposed any reference to TRF.
Misri further underscored Pakistan’s track record of sheltering and celebrating terrorists. “I don’t need to remind anyone where Osama Bin Laden was found, or who called him a martyr,” he said, adding that Pakistan remains home to numerous UN-proscribed terrorists and those blacklisted by other countries as well.
“You must have seen in the last few days, their Defence minister and former foreign minister accepted their country’s involvement with such terror groups,” he added.
Photographic Evidence Highlights ‘State Funerals’ for Terrorists
The Foreign Secretary also denounced what he described as a disturbing pattern of Pakistan holding “state funerals” for terrorists killed in India’s retaliatory strikes. Holding up a photograph during a press conference, Misri revealed that uniformed personnel of the Pakistani Army and police were seen offering prayers behind the coffins of slain terrorists.
In one instance, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was seen leading the funeral prayers. “What message does this image send?” Misri asked, implying that glorification of terrorists may now be a state-sanctioned practice in Pakistan.
“If only civilians were killed in these attacks, I wonder what message this picture actually sends to all of you. This is the question that is worth asking. It’s also odd that the funerals of civilians are carried out with the coffins being draped in Pakistani flags and state honours being accorded,” he said.
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India Neutralizes Air Defence Systems in Retaliation
Meanwhile, today, Indian strikes reportedly neutralized air defence systems at several Pakistani sites, including one in Lahore, in response to Pakistan’s prior use of drones and missiles targeting locations across Northern and Western India, such as Awantipura, Jammu, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Bhuj. India’s air defence systems intercepted these threats, and debris recovered from various locations confirmed the attempted strikes.
Civilian Casualties in Pakistan’s Cross-Border Shelling Draw Sharp Rebuke
India also condemned Pakistan for its artillery shelling targeting civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. A gurdwara in Poonch was struck, killing three members of the Sikh community. In total, 16 civilians—including three women and five children—have died in recent unprovoked cross-border attacks by Pakistan, which have affected areas like Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Mendhar, and Rajouri.
India’s Defence Ministry reaffirmed that no Pakistani military targets were struck and warned that any future attacks on Indian military assets would draw an appropriate response. It emphasized that Operation Sindoor was deliberately calibrated to avoid further escalation and solely intended to dismantle terror infrastructure.