In a press briefing on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack was a deliberate attempt to derail the return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and to create an environment for continued cross-border terrorism from Pakistan.

Misri, who was accompanied by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force, discussed the motives behind Operation Sindoor, a military response targeting nine high-value terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

🔥 Details of the Attack:

“On April 22, 2025, Pakistani-trained terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba attacked Indian tourists in Pahalgam, killing 25 Indians and one Nepali national,” Misri said. He compared the attack to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, describing it as one of the most brutal acts of terror targeting civilians in recent memory.

“The victims were executed point-blank, deliberately traumatizing their families,” Misri added. “This attack was intended to disrupt the peace and economic recovery in Jammu and Kashmir.”

📉 Economic Impact and Strategic Intent:

Misri pointed out that tourism was once again becoming a driving force in the J&K economy, with 2.25 crore tourists visiting the region last year. “The aim of the attack was to halt economic progress and sustain the terrorism ecosystem funded by Pakistan,” Misri emphasized.

🎯 India’s Response:

In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting key terror infrastructure used by Pakistan-backed terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front. Misri reiterated that India’s military response was calibrated and non-escalatory, with the primary goal of dismantling terror infrastructure without causing harm to civilians or economic assets.

“The objective was to decimate the terror ecosystem and prevent further attacks, while ensuring minimal disruption to the region’s normal activities,” Misri said.