Jaishankar On Operation Sindoor: “World Must Show Zero Tolerance for Terror”

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has backed India’s precision airstrikes under Operation Sindoor, stating the world must adopt a zero-tolerance approach toward terrorism.

India carried out high-precision airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early Wednesday, targeting nine terror hideouts affiliated with banned outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The strikes were part of ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.

The Indian Air Force used Rafale jets armed with SCALP cruise missiles to hit key facilities in Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. These included JeM’s Markaz Subhan Allah, Sarjal in Tehra Kalan, and the Syedna Bilal camp.

Reacting to the strikes, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized the need for a global front against terrorism. “The world must show zero tolerance for terrorism,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter), underscoring India’s diplomatic push to garner global support.

The statement comes amid concerns of potential escalation, though India has repeatedly stressed the measured nature of its response.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Defence said: “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted.”

The government clarified that the operation was aimed strictly at terror infrastructure and avoided any civilian or military casualties in Pakistan, underscoring what it called “considerable restraint” in planning and execution.

Operation Sindoor follows the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam, where heavily armed militants killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen during a tourist gathering. JeM and LeT were identified as the prime suspects behind the attack, prompting India’s retaliatory response.

The strike marks one of the most significant military responses since the 2019 Balakot airstrikes.

India’s top leadership has reaffirmed its resolve to combat cross-border terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to bring perpetrators to justice, saying India “will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.”

The government has also launched a diplomatic outreach to counter Pakistan’s narrative and affirm that the strikes were justified, restrained, and necessary for national security.