BREAKING: 2nd MEA briefing: Full details here – India’s response to Pakistan is ‘focused, measured, and non-escalatory’

In a stern yet calibrated response to Pakistan’s recent cross-border aggression, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday stated that the Indian armed forces had thwarted a large-scale missile and drone offensive launched by Pakistan on military installations across Northern and Western India. The government stressed that India’s countermeasures were "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," targeting only locations associated with terrorist infrastructure while deliberately avoiding Pakistani military establishments.

Missile and Drone Assaults Across Strategic Indian Locations

According to an official statement, Pakistan attempted to strike multiple Indian military bases using a coordinated assault involving unmanned aerial systems and missiles. The intended targets included key strategic installations in Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, speaking at a media briefing in Delhi alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh—both in combat uniforms—confirmed that the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence Systems successfully neutralised these threats, preventing further destruction and potential military casualties. “The debris from several interception points is now being recovered and analyzed, clearly establishing the source and intent of the Pakistani strikes,” said Col. Qureshi.

Also read: 12 killed, 57 injured in cross-border shelling in Jammu and Kashmir

Civilian Casualties Along the LoC

While the Indian military shielded its defense assets effectively, the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed devastating shelling, resulting in the death of 16 civilians, including several women and children. Fifty-nine others were injured in the unprovoked attack, which Indian officials condemned as a violation of international humanitarian norms.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri expressed grief over the loss of civilian lives and reiterated that such “nefarious designs by Pakistan would not be allowed to succeed.” He added that global reactions had largely condemned the attacks, noting widespread support for India’s right to self-defense.

Targeted Strikes Against Terror Infrastructure

India's response, while forceful, specifically avoided escalation with the Pakistani military. The MEA emphasized that the retaliatory strikes were limited to terror-linked locations and conducted with precision to avoid collateral damage.

“These were not retaliatory attacks on Pakistan's armed forces,” said an MEA spokesperson. “They were targeted actions against infrastructure and locations directly associated with terrorism, including sites being used to train or house terrorists under the guise of religious sanctity.”

Foreign Secretary Misri further stated that Pakistan was using religious sites to shield terrorist operations, an act India termed both deceitful and dangerous. He also noted that India had credible intelligence indicating that the Sikh community in Pakistan had been deliberately targeted in a recent strike, intensifying concerns about religious persecution and state-sponsored terror.

Pakistan’s Global Terror Footprint

India has consistently raised concerns regarding Pakistan's role in fostering global terrorism. Citing figures such as Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, both UN-designated terrorists operating freely within Pakistan, Misri said, “The world knows that Pakistan is a safe haven for terrorism. Its status as a terror epicentre is based on concrete, irrefutable evidence.”

He further asserted that even Pakistan’s own leadership had, at times, unintentionally admitted to their country's entanglement with terror networks. “Pakistan’s Defence Minister and a former Foreign Minister have, on record, said more eloquently than we could ever articulate how their nation has harbored and supported terrorism,” he remarked.

Unresolved Past Cases: Mumbai and Pathankot

Revisiting past terror incidents, Misri recalled that India had extended unprecedented cooperation following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, providing exhaustive evidence including DNA samples, transcripts, and locations of handlers belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba. Despite the detailed dossier, Pakistan has failed to bring any of the accused to justice.

In the case of the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, India again allowed a Pakistani investigative team access to the attack site and handed over comprehensive forensic and technical data. “Yet again, there has been no progress. The experience has been disappointing and provides little confidence in Pakistan’s claims of wanting a joint investigation,” Misri said.

Diplomatic Messaging and Global Support

India's response, according to MEA officials, sends a clear diplomatic signal: while the country will exercise restraint to avoid a regional flare-up, it will not hesitate to act decisively against terrorism. Foreign Secretary Misri reiterated that India’s military response was well within its rights, carried out in accordance with international norms, and aimed at safeguarding national security.

“Pakistan cannot shield itself behind denial anymore,” he said. “The world has seen repeated patterns in their behavior, and several terror attacks across the globe have had Pakistani fingerprints.”

India’s Restraint and Warnings

The MEA firmly stated that any future military aggression from Pakistan targeting Indian defense establishments would provoke a ‘suitable response’, underscoring India's right to protect its sovereignty and civilian life.

Misri noted that the initial escalation began in Pahalgam, following which India took measured and precise countermeasures. “This is not an eye-for-an-eye response. It is a calibrated mission to dismantle terror infrastructure and protect Indian citizens.”

India’s handling of the situation was lauded by diplomatic observers for maintaining strategic balance—strong enough to deter further attacks, yet restrained enough to prevent a full-scale conflict.

Conclusion

In the aftermath of Pakistan’s cross-border provocations, India has showcased both its military preparedness and strategic patience. The government's decision to refrain from targeting Pakistani military installations, despite serious provocation and civilian losses, highlights New Delhi’s commitment to maintaining regional stability while confronting terrorism head-on.

As tensions simmer and diplomatic lines remain open, the international community watches closely—hoping Pakistan takes this moment to re-evaluate its approach to cross-border terrorism, and that peace, not provocation, will chart the path forward.