India is ready to respond firmly if Pakistan escalates tensions, but has no intention of provoking conflict on its own, said National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval during a meeting with security advisors from several countries. Indian news outlet NDTV reported the statement on Wednesday.
Doval briefed the national security advisors of the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Japan, France, and Russia about India’s recent “Operation Sindoor.” In this operation, missile strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
An official told NDTV that Doval clarified India’s actions were restrained, limited, and aimed at avoiding escalation. However, he emphasized that India is prepared to respond strongly if Pakistan increases tensions.
Doval held discussions with U.S. NSA and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, UK’s Jonathan Powell, Saudi Arabia’s Musaid Al Aiban, UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoun, and Japan’s Masataka Okano. He also communicated with Russia’s NSA Sergei Shoigu, China’s Foreign Minister and Politburo member Wang Yi, and Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic advisor to the French President.
Indian officials reiterated that India’s objective is solely to counter terrorism, not to create military tensions at the border. The dialogue with other countries will continue in the future.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) condemned India’s missile, air, and drone strikes as “unprovoked acts of aggression” and a violation of international borders. In its meeting, the NSC reaffirmed Pakistan’s right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and authorized the military to take “necessary retaliatory measures.”