Washington/New Delhi, May 9:Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has firmly backed India’s right to retaliate following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, stating that “Pakistan doesn’t get to play the victim” when it harbors terrorism.
In a strong statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Haley wrote:
“Terrorists launched an attack that killed dozens of Indian citizens. India had every right to retaliate and defend itself. Pakistan does not get to play the victim. No country gets a pass for supporting terrorist activity.”Haley’s remarks came a day after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes on nine terrorist camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), in response to the deadly Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives.
Earlier Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed a joint press briefing, emphasizing that India’s response was “controlled, precise, measured, and non-escalatory”, targeting only terror infrastructure and not military assets.
“Pakistan initiated the escalation on April 22, and India is responding strictly within the limits of that provocation,” Misri said, adding, “If there is further escalation, India’s response will be in the appropriate domain.”
Misri also criticized Pakistan’s continued support for terror groups, highlighting that the The Resistance Front (TRF)—which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack—has ties to Pakistan, a fact that Islamabad has refused to acknowledge even at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
“Pakistan's reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism is well documented,” Misri added. “We all remember where Osama Bin Laden was found, and who in Pakistan referred to him as a martyr.”
He further condemned Pakistan’s state-sponsored glorification of terrorists. “It's deeply concerning to see that funerals for terrorists are being conducted with national flags and state honours, which speaks volumes about Pakistan’s attitude toward terrorism,” Misri said.
India reiterated that it seeks to avoid escalation but reserves the right to act decisively against terror threats emanating from across the border.
