India asserted its right to defend itself against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism on Thursday, as the country marked the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, the military strikes carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that sparked four days of intense hostilities between the two countries.
India will also continue to focus on strengthening the global fight against terrorism, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a weekly press conference when asked about India’s stance on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and the decision taken last year to cancel all engagements with the neighboring country, including limited trade contacts, and suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.
“Today, we celebrate the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The whole world has seen the Pahalgam terror attack for what it is. We have given a befitting response to Pakistan for sponsoring cross-border terrorism,” Jaiswal said.
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“The world knows that Pakistan has been using cross-border terrorism for a long time as an instrument of state policy. We in India have every right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We will continue to work to strengthen the global fight against terrorism.”
The Resistance Front, a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack in April last year, when terrorists targeted and killed 26 men, including a Nepalese national, on the basis of their beliefs. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with long-range weapons.
The Indian strikes sparked a rapid escalation in tensions with Pakistan, which launched retaliatory strikes against military and other installations. The two sides targeted each other with drones and missiles for four days, before hostilities ended with an understanding between senior military officials from both sides on May 10.
Jaiswal responded to another question on the status of the Indus Waters Treaty – which New Delhi suspended in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack while saying that “blood and water cannot flow together” – by saying that India’s position on the 1960 treaty was “steadfast”.
“The Indus Waters Treaty is suspended in response to Pakistan’s sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan must credibly and irreversibly renounce its support for cross-border terrorism,” he said.
New Delhi has decided to keep the Trans-Border River Water Sharing Treaty suspended as part of a series of punitive diplomatic and economic measures after the Pahalgam terror attack. India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty – brokered by the World Bank – in September 1960 after nine years of negotiations.
In a social media post, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s resolve to defend itself against cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
“With its decisive actions, India has ensured accountability for terrorist acts. It has stressed that such a grave threat to peace and security will be effectively confronted,” he said. He added that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stands “strong and determined” to convey the message of “zero tolerance” for terrorism.
