India’s 4-point focus as it briefs 13 nations on operation Sindoor, takes questions

India on Wednesday briefed envoys from 13 countries on Operation Sindoor, its precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing the diplomats in New Delhi, clarified India’s stance and responded to questions, emphasizing four key points:

Response, not escalation: Misri stressed that the strikes were a measured response to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, and not an act of escalation.

Prepared for retaliation: Asked about potential retaliation by Pakistan, Misri warned that India will respond if Pakistan does.

Nine terror camps targeted: The operation, involving coordinated strikes by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, hit nine terror sites across Pakistan and PoK between 1:05 am and 1:30 am.

Civilian safety prioritized: Responding to a UK envoy’s query about possible mosque targets, Misri clarified that a complex housing a terror camp was struck, but care was taken to avoid civilian and non-military infrastructure.

Sources told India Today TV that over 80 terrorists from banned groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in the strikes.

At a government press briefing earlier in the day, Misri reaffirmed that the action was based on “credible intelligence” and aimed to “break the backbone of terrorism.”

Pakistan, meanwhile, claimed civilian casualties from the strikes—a claim India strongly denied. “Targets were carefully chosen to avoid civilian casualties or damage to military infrastructure,” Misri reiterated.

Wing Commander Singh and Colonel Qureshi joined Misri at the media briefing to address additional questions.