Thu May 08 18:00:00 UTC 2025: ## India Says Pakistan Holds Key to De-escalation After Cross-Border Strikes
**New Delhi, India –** India asserted Thursday that the onus is solely on Pakistan to de-escalate tensions following cross-border military actions. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that India’s response was strictly limited to retaliating for the April 22nd Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. Any further escalation, he clarified, would be entirely Pakistan’s responsibility.
Misri, briefing alongside two armed forces officers, emphasized the “barbaric” nature of the Pahalgam attack and highlighted the measured and restrained nature of India’s response, dubbed “Operation Sindoor.” He cautioned Pakistan against using any alleged damage to the Neelam-Jhelum hydropower project as a pretext for further attacks on Indian infrastructure.
The foreign secretary dismissed Pakistani claims as disinformation, citing a long history of such behavior from the nation’s inception. He noted that the international community largely condemned the Pahalgam attack and recognized India’s right to self-defense. While refusing to detail operational specifics of the strikes, Misri confirmed that India targeted terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan-controlled territories. Pakistan had previously stated it reserved the right to retaliate for the strikes, which it said killed 26 and injured 46. The situation remains tense, with the potential for further escalation resting, according to India, squarely with Pakistan.
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