Thu May 08 08:02:27 UTC 2025: ## India Vows Retaliation After Airstrikes on Pakistan; Opposition Offers Support

**New Delhi** – India has reaffirmed its commitment to retaliate against any further aggression from Pakistan following yesterday’s preemptive airstrikes targeting terrorist infrastructure, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced today. Addressing an all-party meeting, Singh confirmed the strikes destroyed facilities used by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, estimating that approximately 100 terrorists were killed. He cautioned that the casualty figure remains unconfirmed pending further assessment and that full details of the operation, codenamed “Operation Sindoor,” cannot be publicly released due to security sensitivities.

While emphasizing India’s desire to de-escalate the situation, Singh made it clear that any Pakistani attack would be met with a forceful response. The meeting, held a day after the strikes, aimed to brief opposition parties and garner support.

Opposition leaders largely expressed their backing for the government’s actions. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, lauded the government’s transparency in briefing all parties and pledged unwavering support. However, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from both this and a previous all-party meeting, questioning whether the Prime Minister considers himself above Parliament. Kharge later clarified that, while concerned by the absence, the Congress would refrain from further criticism at this crucial time.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju hailed the meeting’s outcome, highlighting the bipartisan consensus in supporting the military’s actions and the government’s approach. He underscored the unity displayed by political leaders across the country, emphasizing that the focus is on national security rather than partisan politics.

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