New Delhi, May 7: On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, India on Thursday reaffirmed its right to defend itself against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism while vowing to further strengthen the global fight against the menace.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, referring to the operation, asserted that India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism.
“We are marking the first anniversary of Op Sindoor today. The entire world saw the Pahalgam terrorist attack for what it was. We gave a befitting reply to Pakistan for its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism,” he said.
“The world knows that cross-border terrorism has long been an instrument of state policy for Pakistan. We in India have every right to defend ourselves against terrorism,” he said at his weekly media briefing.
Jaiswal said India will continue to work to strengthen the global fight against terrorism.
In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year carrying out airstrikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir eliminating at least 100 terrorists.
The strikes triggered a rapid escalation in tensions with Pakistan launching retaliatory strikes though most of them were thwarted by the Indian military.
The hostilities ended with an understanding on halting the military actions on May 10 following talks over the hotline between army officials of the two sides.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s resolve to defend itself against cross-border terrorism from Pakistan.
“With its decisive actions, India ensured accountability for terrorist actions. And underlined that such a serious threat to peace and security will be effectively countered,” he said on social media.
Jaishankar said India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stands “strong and determined” to convey a message of “zero tolerance” for terrorism.
In responding to a question on the Indus Water Treaty, Jaiswal said India’s position on it is consistent.
“Indus Water Treaty (IWT) stands in abeyance in response to Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably abjure its support for cross-border terrorism,” he said.
As part of a series of punitive measures against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, India had put the treaty in abeyance.
India and Pakistan signed the IWT on September 19, 1960 after nine years of negotiations with a sole aim to manage issues relating to cross-border rivers. (PTI)
