New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday reiterated India’s firm position that global cooperation is essential to combat terrorism, adding that countries which enable or support cross-border terrorism must be identified and held accountable.
Responding to questions during the weekly media briefing in the national capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that terrorism originating across borders remains a serious global challenge requiring unified international action.
“Cross-border terrorism is a threat that the entire world must come together to combat. Countries that support or promote terrorism from their territories must be called out,” Jaiswal said.
His remarks come in the backdrop of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s recent address in Moscow at the 1st International Security Forum and the XIV International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters.
During his speech, Doval stressed that there should be no double standards in dealing with terrorism and urged nations to take decisive action against terrorist organisations as well as states that allegedly sponsor or finance them.
“Terrorism is among the most serious threats to international security. Every country has a responsibility to fight it. There cannot be double standards in the fight against terrorism,” Doval said, urging responsible nations to assess their positions clearly in confronting terror networks.
Referring to the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, Doval said India has long been a victim of state-sponsored terrorism. He cited the killing of 26 civilians in what he described as a targeted attack, later claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
He said the international community, including the United Nations Security Council, had emphasised that perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice. “It is in this context that India undertook decisive action against those responsible,” he added.
Following the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May 2025, targeting terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to official statements, Indian forces destroyed multiple terror launchpads linked to groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, eliminating over 100 militants.
The operation was followed by heightened cross-border tensions, including drone attacks and shelling from across the border, leading to a brief four-day military escalation between the two countries. Indian armed forces carried out retaliatory strikes on radar systems and military infrastructure, causing significant damage, officials said.
A ceasefire understanding was later reached on 10 May after discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, bringing a temporary pause to hostilities along the border.