Pahalgam terror attack calculated move to trigger communal clashes in India: PM

New Delhi, Jul 29: Stating that the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack was a calculated move to trigger communal clashes in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday said that ‘Operation Sindoor’ sent a clear message that India would no longer tolerate nuclear blackmail or differentiate between terrorists and the governments that shelter them.
Addressing Lok Sabha, PM Modi said, “Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where terrorists killed people after asking their religion. The barbaric attack as an attempt to spark communal violence in the country. But people foiled the nefarious designs of the perpetrators.”
“India thwarted the conspiracy through national unity and the country responded to the attack by targeting terror infrastructure across the border,” he said, adding, “We destroyed terror sites deep inside Pakistan within 22 minutes to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack.”
He said that Pakistan had some inkling of India’s response and began issuing nuclear threats. “But when the actual action happened, they could do nothing,” he said, adding, “Operation Sindoor showed the world that India would not bow down to nuclear threats. We have proved that nuclear blackmail will not work anymore,” he said.
PM Modi said that India did not just strike only once. “From Sindoor to Sindhu, India has taken decisive steps,” he said, referring to a broader regional response. He said Indian airstrikes inflicted severe damage on terror camps in Bahawalpur and Muridke. “No one could imagine we could reach there. Pakistani airbases are still in ICU,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the entire country is celebrating the success of the ‘Operation Sindoor’ as a “victory celebration.”
He credited the armed forces for precise and timely action. “This is a celebration of the willpower of 140 crore Indians,” he said.
PM Modi said that earlier, masterminds of attacks were confident nothing would happen, but now they know India will respond. “They are losing sleep now,” the Prime Minister said, adding that India has sent a strong message to those who hatch conspiracies.
PM Modi also said India’s technological capability had played a decisive role. “This is the era of technology-based warfare. If we had not prepared over the past 10 years, the consequences could have been very different,” he said.
He said, “Operation Sindoor marked a shift in India’s defence posture and showcased the strength of a self-reliant military. Made-in-India drones and missiles exposed Pakistan’s weapon system.”
The Prime Minister while referring to the decision to halt “Operation Sindoor” on May 10, said, “Questions raised about the operation and the armed forces were based on misinformation spread by Pakistan, which some individuals within India unfortunately echoed.”
He recalled past military operations, including the surgical strikes and the Balakot airstrike, emphasizing that both missions were completed with precision and success. “In Operation Sindoor, our goal was very clear to dismantle the core infrastructure of terrorism. We struck the main base involved in recruitment, funding, and training of terrorists. Despite numerous challenges, our forces ensured the operation met its objectives.”
He told the House that during the operation, Pakistan pleaded for it to be stopped. “Their (Pak) Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted us, saying we had hit them hard and urged us to call off the attack. But from the beginning, we had made it clear there would be no escalation from our side unless provoked.”
The PM also dismissed suggestions that any international leader pressured India to halt the offensive. “No head of state asked us to stop. On the night of May 9, the US Vice President attempted to contact me several times. I was in meetings with our armed forces and responded later. When we finally spoke, he warned me that Pakistan might launch a significant counterattack. I told him clearly: if Pakistan dares to strike, our response will be far greater and we will not return bullets with bullets, but with cannons.” (KNO)