Pakistan did not resort to “nuclear signalling” in the wake of Operation Sindoor and the United States was “neither involved nor informed” about cessation of firing between the two countries, the government told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs headed by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday (May 19, 2025).
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who briefed the panel, rebutted Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Pakistan being informed at the “start of our attack”, sources said. Mr. Misri told the panel that India’s Director-General of Military Operations spoke to his Pakistani counterpart about Operation Sindoor only after the “first strike”.
Mr. Misri also detailed the recent spike in activities of Pakistani-sponsored terrorists operating on Indian soil. Pakistan continues to extend support for terrorists, helping them in training and by providing financial and technical support. In the past year, Mr. Misri reportedly told the panel that there were at least 24 terrorist-initiated attacks, leading to the deaths of 24 security personnel and more than 30 civilians.
The investigations by security agencies, Mr. Misri said, had revealed that the Pakistan state apparatus has been aiding and abetting terror activities on Indian soil. The investigations have revealed that Pakistan-sponsored terrorists have been using military grade weapons, secure communication equipment and navigational aids. Pakistan, through “coordinated ceasefire violations”, also helps them cross the Line of Control (LoC) and also lends them assistance through drones, the government said.
The panel also expressed solidarity with Mr. Misri, who has been at the receiving end of trolls on social media.
The three-hour long meeting attended by 23 members across party lines saw several questions. Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of the meeting, the committee’s Chairman Mr. Tharoor said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials and Mr. Misri “satisfactorily” answered all questions raised by the members. There was a “comprehensive and rich discussion”, he said.
“Many of the MPs had thoughtful questions to ask. There was even a desire to have a resolution expressing solidarity with the Foreign Secretary in the face of the unwarranted attacks and comments, he himself requested that there should be no resolution but it was unanimous sentiment of the committee that he has performed good service for the nation, we all stand with him,” Mr. Tharoor said.
Both ruling MPs and Opposition leaders asked several questions. Congress MP Deependra Hooda asked if India had lost any jets in the operation, to which, as per sources, MEA officials said it was beyond their domain to answer this. Trinamool Congress’s Lok Sabha MP and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee asked if the government had any information about the six terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack. There was no immediate reply.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas asked for clarification on why U.S. President Donald Trump was the first to announce the “ceasefire” even before the two countries did, to which the government said that the U.S. was “neither involved nor informed”. Conversation with U.S. officials was part of a routine process, officials explained, equating it with India’s own interventions urging both Russia and Ukraine to de-escalate. It was only natural, the MEA officials said, for other countries to respond similarly. Mr. Misri clarified that India has clearly stated its position to world leaders that we were only responding to the Pahalgam attack. The MEA officials further said that India has responded through proper channels on Mr. Trump’s statements.
He reiterated the Government’s stance that there was no deviation from the stated policy of no third-party mediation. Detailing the communication between the two sides, Mr. Misri said that after the “first strike” of Operation Sindoor, the Indian DGMO spoke to his Pakistani counterpart, to clarify that India was only hitting at the terror infrastructure and the Pakistani military can choose to stay out. He underlined that Mr. Gandhi’s comments in this context were misplaced. For eight hours, as per sources, Mr. Misri said the Pakistani Army did not intervene. The agreement to cease firing was also taken by the two sides without any third-party intervention. He said that on May 10, after India had hammered Pakistani bases, the Pakistani DGMO approached the Indian DGMO for cessation of firing and an understanding was reached between the two sides on cessation of firing and military activities.
The ruling party MPs too, as per sources, asked for clarifications on why India seems isolated, to which Mr. Misri said that many countries didn’t want to declare openly but most recognised India’s right to respond. Questions were asked about whether the government was concerned about ties with China and Turkiye given their support to Pakistan.
