Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly admitted that India’s ballistic missiles hit inside the territory on the intervening night of May 9 and 10, which left the army caught off-guard.
Speaking in Azerbaijan, Sharif was quoted as saying by the media: “On the night of May 9-10, we decided to respond in a measured fashion to Indian aggression.”
“Our armed forces were prepared to act at 4.30 in the morning after Fajr prayers to teach a lesson,” Sharif said.
“But before that hour even arrived, India once again launched a missile attack using BrahMos, and hit various provinces of Pakistan, including the airport in Rawalpindi,” Sharif admitted.
Operation Sindoor
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that left 26 people, all men and mostly Hindu tourists, dead.
India targeted terror bases in Pakistan and PoK.
After the Pakistan Army again targeted Indian civilians and resorted to cross-border firing, the Indian Armed Forces retaliated, destroying defence systems of the hostile neighbour.
On Pakistan’s appeal, India responded with a ceasefire on May 10, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned of fresh retaliation if Islamabad goes astray.
No Talks Till Terror Ends: MEA
India on Thursday firmly reiterated its hardline stance on Pakistan and took strong exception to Canada’s handling of Khalistani extremism.
In its weekly media briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made it clear that no political legitimacy should be extended to separatist forces.
“Political space should not be given to extremist elements,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to a question on the Khalistan issue in Canada.
Turning to Pakistan, the MEA ruled out any dialogue until Islamabad ends its support for terrorism.
“Terror and trade cannot go together, blood and water cannot go together,” Jaiswal said, in response to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent proposal for talks with India.
“We have been very clear and consistent in our position. I said this in the previous press conference last week, as well as in the press engagement we had on 13th May.”
“Our position regarding Pakistan and engagement with Pakistan has been clear and consistent. You are well aware of our position that any India-Pakistan engagement has to be bilateral,” he said.
The spokesperson underlined that India is open to discussing the return of wanted terrorists, but nothing beyond that. “On terrorism itself, we are open to discussing the handing over to India of noted terrorists whose list was given to Pakistan some years ago.”
Op Sindoor ‘Not Over Yet’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday made a startling announcement that Operation Sindoor, a military action which was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, is “not over yet”.
Addressing a rally in West Bengal’s Alipurduar, the Prime Minister announced without much detail.
Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Modi said, “On April 22, the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam shook the nation. The pain and anger felt across West Bengal were deeply understood. I could feel your outrage. The terrorists dared to wipe off the sindoor from the foreheads of our sisters. But our brave soldiers made them realise the power of that sindoor.”
“Pakistan, the country that nurtures terrorism, has nothing positive to offer to the world. Since its very inception, it has been a breeding ground for terror and violence. But India has changed. We no longer tolerate such cowardly acts. And Operation Sindoor is our firm answer,” the supreme leader of the country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) added.
(With inputs from IBNS)
