Op Sindoor haunts Pahalgam attack plotters: PM Modi in LS

“No Country Asked India to Halt Operation Sindoor”

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that the Indian armed forces taught such a lesson to those behind the Pahalgam attack that the “masters of terrorism” are still losing their sleep over it.

Responding to the two-day debate on Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha, the prime minister said the attack was aimed at instigating riots in India, and the country’s unity has foiled the attempt.

“I stand here to make a case for India, and to show a mirror to those who do not understand this. I had said that we will teach the terrorists and their masters a befitting lesson which will be beyond their imagination.

“We have complete trust in the capabilities of our armed forces and they were given a free hand to respond. The armed forces taught them such a lesson that the masters of terrorism are still losing their sleep over it,” he said.

Modi noted that Pakistan had some inkling of Indian action and had started issuing nuclear threats, but could do nothing when terror targets were hit.

“It (Pahalgam attack) was a conspiracy to instigate riots in India and the country’s unity foiled that attempt. When I speak of this Parliament session being a Vijayotsav, it is of destroying the headquarters of terror,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed in the Lok Sabha that no leader of any country asked India to stop Operation Sindoor but lamented that while the nation got support from the entire world, the Congress and its allies could not stand behind the valour of the nation’s soldiers.

Responding to the two-day debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor in the Lower House, he said no country in the world stopped India from taking action in its defence against terrorism.

The comments by the prime minister come amid repeated questions by the Opposition about why US President Donald Trump announced the “ceasefire” between India and Pakistan.

Modi told the House that on May 9th night, “US Vice President (JD Vance) tried to reach out to me 3-4 times, but I was busy with meetings with the armed forces”.

“When I returned the call, the US Vice President warned me of a big attack from Pakistan. I told him that if Pakistan attacks India, our attack would be much bigger as we will respond to bullets with cannons,” he said.

The prime minister said Pakistani airbases hit by India “are still in ICU” and the masterminds of the April 22 terror attack continue to have sleepless nights.

“No country in the world has stopped India from any action in its defence against terrorism. Only three countries spoke in favour of Pakistan at the UN.

“India got support from the entire world, but it is unfortunate that the Congress did not support the valour of our soldiers. Congress leaders targeted me for political gains, but their frivolous statements ended up discouraging our brave soldiers,” he said.

The prime minister noted that India called out Pakistan’s nuclear bluff and showed the world that “we will not bow down to nuclear blackmail”.

“Our operations range from Sindoor to Sindhu (Indus Waters Treaty)… Pakistan knows they have to pay a huge price for any misadventure. Terror attacks were launched earlier and the masterminds of attacks knew nothing would happen, but now they know India will come for them.”

PM Modi said drones and missiles made in India exposed the capabilities of Pakistani arms and ammunition during the military operation.

“The world saw the strength of self-reliant India during Operation Sindoor. We destroyed terror sites deep inside Pakistan within 22 minutes to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack,” he said.

“The Congress and its allies have unfortunately become spokespersons of Pakistani propaganda. India is becoming self-reliant, but Congress is now dependent on Pakistan for issues. The entire country is amazed to see Congress give a clean chit to Pakistan and sing the same tune as theirs.

“We have complete trust in the capabilities of our armed forces and they were given a free hand to respond. The armed forces taught them such a lesson that the masters of terrorism are still losing their sleep over it,” he added.

If Pak can’t act on terror, India will: Rajnath

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said if Pakistan cannot take action against terrorism on its soil, India is ready to help the neighbouring country as Indian forces are capable of fighting terror on the other side of the border as well.

Initiating a special discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack have been eliminated by Indian forces.

He further said that Operation Sindoor – India’s response to the Pahalgam attack — has been halted, and can be resumed anytime if Pakistan indulges in terror activities in India again.

“India wants terrorism to end in the whole world, including Pakistan… I had advised Pakistan earlier as well, and today I want to say again, that if you are unable to take effective action against terrorism in Pakistan, take India’s help. India’s forces are capable of taking effective action against terrorism this side of the border, as well as on the other side. Pakistan has already witnessed this during Operation Sindoor,” he said.

“If Pakistan commits any terror incidents in future, we will relaunch Operation Sindoor without hesitation,” he said. “Our vision is that Operation Sindoor should carry on continuously. There can be a comma but no full stop,” he stressed.

The Defence Minister stressed that no religious, ideological, or political reason can justify terrorism.

He also congratulated the security forces for killing three terrorists who were involved in the Pahalgam attack in which 26 people were killed.

“I congratulate the forces for killing three terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam terror attack in April. These are the terrorists who killed people in Pahalgam,” the defence minister said.

He said Home Minister Amit Shah has provided details of the joint operation by the forces in the Lok Sabha.

Singh said post the Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the service chiefs, and gave them free hand to use their wisdom, strategic understanding and regional security situation to decide on the response.

He said the military leadership also showed maturity, and stressed that India’s response – Operation Sindoor – was aimed at giving a clear message that India will take strong action and go to any extent against terror.

“Our action was in self-defence, it was not expansionist…The aim was to destroy terror infrastructure and give the message of zero tolerance for terror,” Singh said.

“The political-military objective was to punish Pakistan for using terrorism as a proxy war,” he added.

Singh said Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) urged India to stop the hostilities, and India accepted it on the condition that the operation would be suspended, not terminated.

“If Pakistan commits any terror incidents in future, we will relaunch Operation Sindoor without hesitation,” he said. “Our vision is that Operation Sindoor should carry on continuously. There can be a comma but no full stop,” he said.

While expressing surprise over questions raised by some opposition leaders over getting back Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Singh said, “I am surprised at this demand, because when they were in power, they did just the opposite”.

“It has always been the stand of the Bharatiya Janata Party that the day is not far when the people of PoK will have the privilege of becoming a part of the Indian governance system,” he said.

He said the forces achieved the goals set under the operation.

“Through Operation Sindoor, we have given a clear message, India can go to any extent against terrorism,” he said.

Singh appealed to the international community to stop funding for Pakistan, stating that a major portion goes into funding terror activities.

“It is essential to expose countries that fund and provide shelter to terrorism in front of the world today. A large portion of the money or economic aid that Pakistan receives is spent on the factory of terrorism,” he said.

He also slammed the United Nations over Pakistan’s appointment to the key counter-terrorism committee.

“The United Nations Security Council has appointed Pakistan as the Vice-Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Panel. The surprising thing is that this Counter-Terrorism Panel was formed after the 9/11 attacks. It is also no secret that Pakistan gave shelter to the mastermind of that attack,” he said.

“We have always observed that countries like Pakistan have consistently supported terrorism. What a contradiction it is that both India and Pakistan gained independence at the same time, but today, while India is recognised worldwide as the Mother of Democracy, Pakistan has emerged as the Father of Global Terrorism,” he said.

Earlier, as the Upper House reassembled at 2 pm, after it was adjourned around 11 am, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said the discussion on Operation Sindoor would be taken up, and urged the members to be mindful of the sensitive nature of the issue.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien tried to raise a point of order.

Harivansh, however, did not allow it, stating that it was not related to the topic of discussion. TMC MPs raised slogans against the SIR, and some MPs also trooped into the Well. As the Chair did not allow the Opposition MPs to speak, MPs from TMC and some other INDIA bloc parties staged a walkout from the House.