India on Wednesday reached out to major global powers, including members of the UN Security Council, to explain the rationale behind its military strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes were launched in retaliation for the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, officials familiar with the matter said.
New Delhi made it clear to the international community that it would respond firmly if Pakistan chose to escalate the already tense situation.
Diplomatic Outreach
Following the military operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts in Germany, Japan, France, and Spain, briefing them about the strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.
Simultaneously, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval reached out to his counterparts in the United States, China, the UK, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Japan, and France. Doval reportedly stressed that India has no intention to escalate the situation but is prepared to “retaliate resolutely” if provoked.
Doval’s calls included conversations with US NSA and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian NSA Sergei Shoigu, British NSA Jonathan Powell, Saudi NSA Musaed Al-Aiban, UAE NSA Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Japan’s NSA Masataka Okano, and Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to the French President.
Operation Sindoor: Targeted Strikes
According to military officials, India’s airstrikes targeted key terror hubs:
- Markaz Taiba (Lashkar-e-Taiba) in Muridke
- Markaz Subhan Allah (Jaish-e-Mohammad) in Bahawalpur
- Hizbul Mujahideen’s Mehmoona Joya Facility in Sialkot
- Markaz Ahle Hadith (LeT base) in Barnala
- LeT’s camp in Muzaffarabad’s Shawai Nalla
The Indian government described the action as targeted, proportionate, and non-escalatory, focused solely on dismantling terror infrastructure.
Global Response
Jaishankar thanked his counterparts for their solidarity and support. “Appreciated their solidarity and support in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Discussed ensuring zero tolerance for terrorism,” Jaishankar said on social media after a joint call with French and German leaders.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry voiced deep concern over the situation, warning it could escalate into a full-scale military conflict. Tokyo urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue for the sake of peace and stability in South Asia.
UN Briefing
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed ambassadors of 13 permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China’s Xu Feihong and Russia’s Denis Alipov. Misri emphasized that India’s response was measured and aimed at ensuring justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack, as called for by the UN Security Council.
Speaking at a press briefing, Misri stated that India’s actions were aligned with international norms and were necessary in the absence of any “demonstrable step” by Pakistan to dismantle the terror infrastructure on its soil.
