In a high-stakes meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday, May 26, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of “dishonest misrepresentation” over the timeline of India’s military strike against Pakistan, ‘Operation Sindoor’.
The operation, conducted on the night of May 7–8, was India’s retaliatory response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, including one of a Nepali national.
‘Pakistan Was Informed Only After Strike’, Says EAM
Refuting Opposition claims that Pakistan was warned ahead of the operation targeting terror hubs, Jaishankar told the panel that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) was contacted only after the mission had concluded. “There was no prior communication. The DGMO in Pakistan was informed only 30 minutes after the strike, even after the first release by the PIB,” he said, as quoted by CNN-News18.
Jaishankar's remarks came amidst a heated exchange between members of the Opposition and the ruling NDA during the panel meeting in New Delhi. According to sources, the EAM stressed that the government had actively countered Pakistan’s misinformation campaign following the cross-border strike.
He also noted that ‘Operation Sindoor’ struck the “epicentre of terrorism," including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), something “no previous government dared to do”.
No Talks Except on POK and Terror, Says India
Jaishankar asserted that the Modi government’s stance is unambiguous; dialogue with Pakistan will be confined strictly to discussions on Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and terrorism. “There is no confusion whatsoever. Operation Sindoor will persist as long as provocations continue,” he said.
Responding to concerns raised by panel members about the growing terror threat in Punjab, Jaishankar added that India’s counter-terror strategy is evolving. He also warned of imminent action concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, saying, “India is serious about its implementation. The impact will be visible in the coming days.”
Addressing international commentary, the minister brushed off remarks by former US President Donald Trump, adding, “India has no control over what Trump says. The matter is entirely bilateral. There was no US interference, only DGMO-level communication occurred.”
