India briefs global powers on strikes

New Delhi, May 7: As India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, striking nine terrorist facilities across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, the country also moved swiftly on the diplomatic front.

Senior Indian officials reached out to key world capitals to explain the rationale behind the strikes and to seek international backing against cross-border terrorism.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval spoke with his United States counterpart and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

According to a statement from the Indian embassy in Washington, India presented “credible leads, technical inputs, testimony of survivors and other evidence” implicating Pakistan-based terrorist outfits in the Pahalgam killings.

The statement said: “It was expected that Pakistan would take action against terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them. Instead, Pakistan indulged in denial and made allegations of false flag operations against India.”

The US urged both sides to avoid escalation.

“Earlier this afternoon, @SecRubio spoke to the national security advisors from India and Pakistan. He urged both to keep lines of communication open,” the US State Department said on social media.

Across Europe and Asia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conducted a series of diplomatic calls to rally support and underscore India’s “firm and measured” military response.

“Spoke with FM @jmalbares of Spain. Discussed India’s firm and measured response to cross-border terrorism,” Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar posted on X. “Had a joint telecon with FM @jnbarrot of France & FM @JoWadephul of Germany. Appreciated their solidarity and support in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Discussed ensuring zero tolerance for terrorism. Had a telecon with FM Takeshi Iwaya of Japan. Appreciate the strong condemnation of the April 22 terrorist attack. Discussed India’s action against the cross-border terrorist infrastructure this morning. Good to speak to PM & FM @MBA_AlThani_ of Qatar. Discussed India’s targeted and measured response to deter cross-border terrorism.”

India’s outreach follows a pattern seen after previous cross-border strikes, an effort to contain geopolitical blowback while shoring up international consensus on its right to self-defence.

New Delhi’s emphasis this time is on the “limited and focused nature” of the strikes, which specifically targeted terrorist camps and avoided civilian areas.

Several countries responded with cautious statements. US President Donald Trump expressed hope that hostilities “end very quickly,” while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern and urged “maximum restraint.” Israel offered strong support, affirming India’s right to self-defence, with Ambassador Reuven Azar posting: “Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent.”

Britain and the United Arab Emirates also called for de-escalation and renewed dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

As tensions remain high along the Line of Control, New Delhi’s message to the world appears aimed at both justification and deterrence — a calibrated assertion of its willingness to strike back, without plunging the region into wider conflict.