External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday clarified that Pakistan was notified 30 minutes after India launched Operation Sindoor, a military strike on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, according to sources cited by India Today TV. He briefed a Parliamentary Consultative Committee on External Affairs to address the operation and rising cross-border terrorism.
“Within half an hour of Operation Sindoor commencing, Pakistan had been informed that only terrorist hideouts were being targeted,” Jaishankar reportedly told the panel.
Pakistan Notified Post-Launch to Avoid Escalation
Jaishankar added that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was agreed upon after communication between the DGMOs (Directors General of Military Operations), initiated by Islamabad. This move was aimed at ensuring that no escalation occurred, as India stressed it was targeting terror infrastructure alone, not civilian or military zones.
US Intelligence & India’s Firm Stand
Addressing foreign mediation, especially from the United States, Jaishankar said India communicated its position clearly to Washington.“They fire, we fire. They stop, we stop,” he stated, highlighting India’s retaliatory approach.
When the US Secretary of State relayed intelligence suggesting Pakistan might retaliate with a larger offensive, India gave a clear response:“If Pakistan escalates, we are ready to respond in kind.”
Political Row Over Rahul Gandhi’s Allegation
The minister’s statement came days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government had pre-informed Pakistan about the military operation.“Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it. Who authorised it? How many aircraft did our air force lose as a result?” Gandhi posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In response, the Ministry of External Affairs strongly rejected the accusation
“EAM Jaishankar had stated that we had warned Pakistan at the start, which is clearly the early phase after Op Sindoor’s commencement. This is being falsely represented as being before the commencement. This utter misrepresentation of facts is being called out,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Operation Sindoor: A Precise Strike After Pahalgam Attack
India initiated Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including several tourists. The operation involved precision airstrikes on nine terror camps across the Line of Control in PoK and Pakistan.
Following the strikes, Pakistan attempted retaliatory actions on May 8, 9, and 10, targeting Indian military installations. However, Indian forces responded robustly, hitting back at multiple Pakistani military sites and reaffirming their strategic deterrence.
India’s diplomatic and military narrative post-Operation Sindoor underscores its firm stance on cross-border terrorism, strategic clarity in crisis communication, and rejection of politicised misinformation.
