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While addressing the Lok Sabha on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar revealed that the United States Vice President had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9 about a 'massive attack' that would be carried out by neighbouring Pakistan.
"I’d like to inform the House that on May 9, Vice President JD Vance called the Prime Minister warning of a massive Pakistani attack expected in the next few hours. The Prime Minister, in his response, made it very clear that if such an attack occurred, it would be met with an appropriate response from our side. The attack did take place but was foiled by our armed forces. I think the House should collectively appreciate the performance of our armed forces in preventing what was a massive attack on the 9th and 10th of May..." said Dr Jaishankar.
Additionally, the Union Minister dismissed United States President Donald Trump's claims of brokering a peace treaty between India and Pakistan. Dr Jaishankar said, "There was no call between PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump from April 22 to June 17...At no stage, in any conversation with the United States, was there any linkage with trade and what was going on..."
What happened on May 9?On May 9 night after International Monetary Fund approved financial package, Pakistan deployed a range of arsenal - UAVs, loitering munitions, fighter aircraft, long-range artillery, missiles - under this new code. It targeted civilians and military bases and India defended stoutly with S-400 and Akash air defence systems, ET reported.
The most dangerous attempt was a missile targeting Adampur airbase, sources told ET. This went on for hours and just like in the past, India responded in the early hours of May 10 without losing time because Islamabad had hoped that diplomatic pressure will come on New Delhi soon. But India had different plans. This time Indian forces took advantage of having taken down most of Pakistan's air defence systems to target their airbases.
'Red lines crossed':While commenting on the Pahalgam attack, Dr Jaishankar said, "...It was important to send a clear, strong and resolute message after the Pahalgam terror attack. Our red lines were crossed, and we had to make it very apparent that there would be serious consequences. As a result, the Cabinet Committee on Security met and put the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably gives up its support of cross-border terrorism," said the External Affairs Minister.
"Our task, from a diplomatic perspective, from a foreign policy approach was to shape global understanding of the Pahalgam attack. What we tried to do was to bring to international community Pakistan's long standing use of cross border terrorism," said Jaishankar while addressing the Lower House of the Parliament.
India's response to Pahalgam attackIndia launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Pakistani attempts were strongly responded to by the Indian side by inflicting heavy damages to a number of key Pakistani military installations including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on May 10 announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect. New Delhi has been maintaining that India's fierce attacks on May 10 forced Pakistan to plead for ending the hostilities. India said Operation Sindoor reflected India's new approach in combating cross-border terrorism from Pakistan and its resolve to not succumb to Islamabad's nuclear blackmail.
