New Delhi: India has strongly condemned Pakistan for its ongoing support of cross-border terrorism, highlighting the country’s decision to hold state funerals for three individuals identified by Indian intelligence as terrorists. Pakistan, however, claims these individuals were civilians among over 100 terrorists killed in ‘Operation Sindoor’.
A special briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’ is being conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which includes Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told an all-party meeting that at least 100 terrorists were killed in the Indian strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under ‘Operation Sindoor’.
They said the defence minister also informed the leaders that it was an ongoing operation and that India will hit back if Pakistan attacks in the wake of India’s targeted strike.
Leaders of several parties, including both Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, were present at the meeting, which was also attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, besides BJP president and Health minister J P Nadda.
Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge from the Congress, Sandip Bandyopadhyay of the Trinamool Congress and DMK’s T R Baalu were among the leading opposition figures in the meeting.
Other opposition leaders included Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, Sanjay Singh of the AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, BJD’s Sasmit Patra and CPI(M)’s John Brittas.
JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha, Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi were also part of the meeting.
Ahead of the meeting, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him on the developments regarding India-Pakistan tensions.
After India hit nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling, killing 15 persons and leaving over 50 others injured in J&K’s Poonch district on Wednesday.