‘Pahalgam attack was barbaric, probe revealed Pakistan’s link to it’: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Operation Sindoor

New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday said that the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, was carried out by terrorists associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and had direct support from Pakistan. The attack left 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali citizen dead.

During a press briefing, Misri said, “The terrorists shot the victims in the head in front of their family members and threatened the survivors to pass on the message of terror.” He explained that the main purpose of the attack was to disrupt tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been seeing a strong revival.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. Misri said, “Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam attack has been clearly established.”

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He said that Operation Sindoor, a joint strike by India’s three armed forces on May 6-7, was carried out in response to this brutal act of terrorism.

Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh on Operation Sindoor were also present during the press briefing. 

What is Operation Sindoor?

India launched a strong response to Pahalgam terror attack through a surgical strike named Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to officials, more than 100 terrorists were killed in a joint operation conducted by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force late on Tuesday night.

Indian government described Operation Sindoor as a measured but firm response to terrorism, aimed only at terror bases and not at any Pakistani military facility. Officials have emphasized that India acted in self-defence and the strike was conducted with precision and responsibility.

#WATCH | Government of India presentation on the terrorist attacks in India, at media briefing on #OperationSindoor pic.twitter.com/uE03V2r9hE

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2025

Nine terrorist hideouts targeted

The operation targeted nine locations linked to terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The identified camps included:

• Bahawalpur (Jaish HQ) – 100 km inside the international border
• Muridke Samba opposite border (Lashkar camp) – linked to 26/11 attackers
• Gulpur (PoK) – connected to the 2023 Poonch and 2024 bus attacks
• Sawai Camp (PoJK) – 30 km inside Tangdhar sector
• Bilal Camp – Jaish launchpad
• Lashkar Kotli Camp (Rajouri) – bombing training centre
• Barnala Camp (Rajouri) – 10 km inside LoC
• Sarjal Camp (Samba-Kathua) – Jaish camp
• Mehmoona Camp (near Sialkot) – Hizbul Mujahideen training base

These locations were carefully selected for their links to terror attacks and were destroyed in a well-coordinated strike.

PM Modi monitored operation throughout night

Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitored the strike overnight. Before the strike, he held a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday. After the operation was completed, PM Modi’s first meeting on Wednesday morning was again with Doval to review the outcome.

Pahalgam terror attack

The decision to strike back was taken following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed. Attackers had reportedly targeted people after asking for their names and religion, leading to nationwide outrage.

In response, PM Modi ended his foreign trip to Saudi Arabia early and returned to India. He then chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, followed by separate meetings with the chiefs of the three armed forces. During these meetings, the Prime Minister gave the military a free hand to act against terrorism.

Operation Sindoor Full Coverage

This story is being updated…