India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar gave a stern warning to Pakistan on Thursday, May 7. He said India would respond very firmly to any military attacks from Pakistan. He made this statement a day after India launched missile strikes in response to a terror attack it blamed on Islamabad.

Jaishankar addressed this during the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting held on Thursday. Speaking to the visiting Iranian delegation led by Iran's foreign minister Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi,  he said, “Our response was targeted and measured. It is not our intention to escalate the situation.” He added, “However, if there are military attacks on us, there should be no doubt that it will be met with a very, very firm response.” 

On Wednesday, after the missile strikes, Jaishankar posted a one-line message on social media. He wrote, “The world must show zero tolerance for terrorism.”

The Indian Armed Forces launched a strong and strategic response early Wednesday morning. They carried out precision missile strikes on nine terror targets located deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

India named the operation “Operation Sindoor.” The strikes targeted key installations of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). These two Pakistan-based terror groups have carried out deadly attacks in India for the last thirty years.

The missile strikes were a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. India considered this action one of its most decisive and far-reaching military offensives against cross-border terror infrastructure.

The government has made its position clear. Any future military provocations will face a strong and firm Indian response.