Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on May 8 cautioned Pakistan that any more provocative action would be responded to as an escalation and met with a suitable reaction. Speaking at a special press conference, Misri reiterated that the current operations by India are in retaliation of the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians, most of whom were tourists, lost their lives in one of the most violent attacks in recent times.
“Any further action by Pakistan, some of which we are seeing today, is nothing but escalation again, and will be met with a response,” Misri said, emphasizing that India is showing restraint in the face of provocation.
He further explained that Indian precision strikes carried out during Operation Sindoor were not targeting Pakistani civilians, definitively rejecting assertions by Islamabad that civilians were hit and a dam was targeted. “Those are outright fabrications,” Misri stated, threatening Pakistan with being used as an excuse to strike at Indian infrastructure.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh further added that Pakistan has increased unprovoked firing across the Line of Control through mortars and heavy guns across several sectors of Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Uri, Mendhar, and Rajouri.
Misri underscored that Pakistan’s international image as a terrorism hub is firmly in place, referencing the presence in its territory of many terrorists designated by the UN. “Pakistan has to make a choice,” he cautioned, citing recent Pakistani officials’ confession of connections with terror organizations.
