Pahalgam attack was ‘original escalation’ that led to India-Pakistan tensions: Foreign Secretary

The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 was the “original escalation” which led to the current tensions between India and Pakistan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.

Misra said at a press briefing that India’s response to the attack was “restrained, directed at non-civilians, non-military targets, and confined to terrorist camps”.

The foreign secretary 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.”

The foreign ministry briefing took place hours after the defence ministry said that Indian forces neutralised attempts by Pakistan to use drones and missiles to target Indian military installations in 15 towns and cities on Wednesday night.

This came after the Indian military on Wednesday carried out strikes on what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Nine sites were targeted during the strikes, which were codenamed Operation Sindoor.

The Pakistan Army retaliated by shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Sixteen persons were killed in the firing, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistani Army claimed it shot down 25 Indian drones that entered its airspace since Wednesday night, Al-Jazeera reported. Pakistan...

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