Operation Sindoor: India targeted terror networks, says govt; denies foreign pressure behind ceasefire

The central government on Thursday said that Operation Sindoor was launched in response to a “barbaric” cross-border attack by terrorists backed by Pakistan, with a focused aim to destroy terror infrastructure and eliminate terrorists poised to infiltrate into India.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the operation was “focussed, measured and non-escalatory”.

Responding to a question on whether Operation Sindoor was initiated due to international pressure, the minister clarified that the action was prompted by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, and not due to any external compulsion.

Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman also asked about the impact of ”sudden announcement of ceasefire in Operation Sindoor” on the morale of the Indian forces which were ”achieving significant success”, but suddenly ”declaring ceasefire was against their morale and the sentiments of the people of the country”.

Union minister Singh said Operation Sindoor was launched to respond to a ”barbaric cross-border terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. It focussed on dismantling terrorist infrastructure and neutralising terrorists likely to be sent across to India”.

Pakistan, however, attempted targeting Indian civilian areas, in addition to some military facilities, he said.

”These provocations and escalatory actions by Pakistan were met with a strong and decisive response from the Indian armed forces, inflicting significant damage on the Pakistani military. Subsequently, on 10 May, 2025, the Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan approached his Indian counterpart to request for cessation of firing and military activities, which was agreed to later that day,” the MoS said.

Under Operation Sindoor, India had decimated nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7 in pre-dawn precision strikes. It was carried out to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike.

In a separate query, the MEA was also asked whether the ministry had taken efforts to ”alienate” Pakistan on world forum.

As part of the UN Security Council’s routine annual process, the Chairs and Vice- Chairs of its subsidiary bodies and committees are selected from amongst its permanent and elected non-permanent members. In addition to Russia and France, Pakistan has been selected as one of the Vice-Chairs of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee for 2025, Singh said.

It may be noted that India was the Chair of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee in 2022. Similarly, India was also the Chair of the same committee during its 2011-12 term, the MoS added.

”The Government of India has been sensitising all concerned interlocutors on the menace of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Due to India’s persistent efforts, the global community has a greater understanding of India’s concerns on cross-border terrorism,” he said.

India’s efforts over the years have led to listing of several Pakistan-based terrorists and terrorist entities under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee and the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) ”grey listing of Pakistan”, the minister said.

The UNSC press statement in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack also ”strongly condemned” the terror attack and acknowledged the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, sponsors and financiers of the attack accountable, he said.

Several world leaders have recognised and supported India’s actions to combat terrorism following the Pahalgam attack. Most recently, the US has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, he said.

In a separate query, the MEA was asked whether the gover