External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that Operation Sindoor sent a clear and unequivocal message to the world that India will act decisively against terrorism. Speaking at a press conference in Washington on Wednesday, Jaishankar emphasized that the operation, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, demonstrated India’s resolve to target not only perpetrators but also supporters, financiers, and enablers of terrorism.
“The message was conveyed with great clarity,” Jaishankar said. “The objective of Operation Sindoor was to show that terrorist attacks will be met with firm action.”
The Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives, was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. India responded by launching targeted strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Jaishankar welcomed the strong international response, including a joint statement from the Quad Foreign Ministers — Jaishankar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya — who condemned the attack and demanded accountability. The Quad called on all UN member states to cooperate in bringing those responsible to justice.
The UN Security Council also issued a statement condemning the attack and stressed the importance of holding the perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors accountable under international law.
Highlighting India’s long-standing battle against cross-border terrorism, Jaishankar said: “We have the right to defend ourselves, and we are very resolved to respond firmly.”
During his Washington visit, Jaishankar also held bilateral talks with Secretary Marco Rubio, reviewing progress in trade, investment, defense, technology, energy, and mobility. He separately met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
On the proposed U.S. legislation to impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries purchasing Russian oil, Jaishankar said India is monitoring developments closely. “Our concerns regarding energy security have been clearly communicated,” he said, noting that Indian officials are in touch with Senator Lindsey Graham, who introduced the bill. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, if we come to it,” he added. (Source: IE)
