Original escalation happened on April 22, India merely responded to it: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reiterated India's stance that the military actions against nine terror outfits in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor were "non-escalatory, precise, and measured".

Addressing the media on Thursday, Misri said India's intention is not to escalate matters and that its security forces were responding to the original escalation that happened on April 22.

He clarified that no military bases of Pakistan have been targetted, and that only terror infrastructure has been hit.

Pointing out that Pakistan's engagement with and patronising of militant outfits were clear in several instances of terror attacks, he said, "When talks were going on about the Pahalgam at the UNSC, Pakistan opposed the role of TRF (The Resistance Front). This is after TRF claimed the responsibility of the attack not once, but twice."

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Pakistan's reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism is rooted in a number of instances, he said, adding, "I don't need to remind where Osama Bin Laden was found and who called him a martyr...Pakistan is also home to a large number of UN-proscribed terrorists and also to terrorists proscribed by many countries."

“It's also odd that funerals of civilians are being carried out with coffins wrapped in their national flag, and state honours are being accorded. The individuals eliminated at these facilities were terrorists. Giving state funerals to terrorists may be a practice in Pakistan, but it doesn't seem to make much sense to us.”

He said Pakistan launched a targetted attack on the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday in which three members of the community were killed. A total of 16 civilians have been killed in Poonch and several others have been injured, he added.

"Any further action by Pakistan, some of which we are seeing today, is nothing but escalation by Pakistan once again, and will be responded to and is being responded to appropriately," he warned.

Earlier, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military.

Defence