1 / 11India targeted as many as nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan, two weeks after 26 tourists were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Camps of terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen were struck as part of Operation Sindoor. In the image here, a damaged portion of the Bilal Mosque is seen after Operation Sindoor in Muzaffarabad. Here’s what global leaders said after India struck Pakistan. (Image Reuters)
2 / 11US President Donald Trump hopes the situation ends quickly, acknowledging the long-standing tensions between the two nations. Responding to a question at a press conference, he said, “It’s a shame. Just heard about it. I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They’ve been fighting for a long time. They’ve been fighting for many, many decades. I hope it ends very quickly.” (Image Reuters)
3 / 11US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was monitoring the situation closely. “I echo @POTUS’s comments earlier today that this hopefully ends quickly and will continue to engage both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution.” (Image AP)
4 / 11China has also reacted to the military strikes, voicing concern about escalating tensions between the two nations. In a statement, China’s Foreign Ministry said, “China regrets India’s military action in the early hours of this morning and is concerned about the current development. We call on both sides to refrain from taking actions that further complicate the situation and exercise restraint. India and Pakistan are and will always be each other’s neighbours. They’re both China’s neighbours as well. China opposes all forms of terrorism.” China said it was willing to play a ‘constructive role’ in easing tensions between Pakistan and India. (Image Reuters)
5 / 11Russia expressed concern over the latest flare-up between India and Pakistan. “Deeply concerned about the increasing military confrontation between India and Pakistan. Russia strongly condemns acts of terrorism and opposes any manifestation of it,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. It also called on both sides to show restraint. (Image Reuters)
6 / 11Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak justified the Indian attack on terrorist camps in Pakistan. “No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from land controlled by another country. India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists,” he wrote on X. (Image Reuters)
7 / 11Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi firmly condemned terrorism and urged both nations to exercise restraint and stabilise the situation through dialogue. “In regard to the terrorist act that occurred in Kashmir on April 22, our country firmly condemns such acts of terrorism. Furthermore, we express strong concern that this situation may lead to further retaliatory exchanges and escalate into a full-scale military conflict. For the peace and stability of South Asia, we strongly urge both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilise the situation through dialogue,” Hayashi said. Tokyo will continue to monitor the situation closely while taking all possible measures to protect Japanese nationals abroad, he added. (Image Reuters)
8 / 11Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, has asked the two countries to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation. (Image Reuters)
9 / 11Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said that Israel supports India’s right to self-defence. In a post on X, he wrote, “Israel supports India’s right to self-defence. Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent. #OperationSindoor” Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended support for India, writing, “Israel stands with India in its fight against terrorism.”
10 / 11United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about Indian military operations across the Line of Control and the international border. He called for maximum military restraint from both countries. “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” he added. (Image Reuters)
11 / 11Soon after the strikes at 9 sites in Pakistan and PoK as part of Operation Sindoor, NSA Ajit Doval, spoke with NSA’s of several countries including US NSA & Secretary of State Marco Rubio, UK NSA Jonathan Powell, Saudi NSA Musaid Al Aiban, UAE NSA H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon, Secretary General of NSC of UAE Ali Al Shamsi and NSA of Japan Masataka Okano. Contact was also established with Russian NSA Sergei Shoigu, Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee & Minister of Foreign Affairs of PRC Wang Yi and Diplomatic Adviser to French President Macron, Emmanuel Bonne. NSA briefed them on actions taken and the method of execution, which was measured, non-escalatory and restrained. He emphasised that India had no intent to escalate but was well prepared to retaliate resolutely should Pakistan decide to escalate. (Image PTI)
