Terrorism remains one of the greatest and most persistent threats against humanity. Its purpose is not merely to destroy lives and property, but to spread fear, divide societies, and weaken confidence in democratic institutions. The continued human cost of terrorism stands in stark contradiction to the promise of the modern age. Terrorism claims thousands of lives every year around the globe.
Pakistan remains the global epicentre of terrorism. It is a nation that for long hosted Osama Bin Laden and a country whose fingerprints are on so many terrorist incidents across the world. Unfortunately, for decades, India has been the victim of large scale state-sponsored cross-border terrorism resulting in attacks on our Parliament, our financial capital Mumbai, market places, and pilgrimage routes.
A year ago, on 22 April 2025, The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan backed UN proscribed terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), carried out the dastardly attack on tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir killing 26 innocent people. This was the largest civilian casualty in a terrorist attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were also carried out by the LeT.
When terrorism is supported by a State against a neighbour, when it is fuelled by the bigotry of extremism, when it drives a whole host of illegal activities, it is imperative to respond resolutely and show zero tolerance. Thus, on the morning of 7 May 2025, India exercised its right to respond and launched Operation Sindoor.
The actions taken by the Indian armed forces were measured, non-escalatory, precise, proportionate, and decisive. They focused on dismantling the extensive terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir without targeting Pakistani military establishments. In response, however, Pakistan launched targeted attacks against military and civilian areas in India where several lives were lost. India had no choice but to respond. Indian Armed Forces launched retaliatory strikes on major bases of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The damage caused was seen by the entire world through the satellite images of the PAF bases. With its morale broken, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called India’s DGMO and requested for cessation of firing and military activities.
Through India’s persistent efforts along with partners united against terrorism, the 36th Report of the Monitoring Team of the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee published in July 2025 included a para on the Pahalgam terrorist attack along with a reference to TRF. The same month, TRF was designated by the United States of America as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
Operation Sindoor was a trinity of India’s policy, intent, and decisive capability. It established a new normal in our response to terrorism – if there is another terror attack, India will respond and it will be a decisive response, on India’s terms, in India’s way. Prime Minister Modi made it clear that this is the new India! This India seeks peace, but if humanity is attacked, India also knows how to crush the enemy on the battlefield. India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will not differentiate between the Government which is sponsoring terrorism, and the masterminds of terrorism.
The fight against terrorism is a long and demanding one, but history has shown that societies united by courage and common purpose are stronger than those who seek to terrorise them. On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, India, as the world’s largest democracy, India maintains a firm zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, combining decisive military action, diplomatic engagement, and international cooperation to prevent, punish, and deter terrorism in all its forms.
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