¡®We had to respond to Pahalgam¡¯: Omar Abdullah defends Operation Sindoor, says India targeted terror camps, not civilians

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said India¡¯s response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam was necessary and measured. While India avoided civilian or military targets and focused only on terror hideouts, Pakistan¡¯s reaction has led to civilian casualties. The Chief Minister said that now it is for Pakistan to decide whether it wants to escalate or move towards de-escalation.

India responded only after Pahalgam attack

According to Abdullah, India was left with no choice but to respond to the attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. He said that Jammu and Kashmir had been stable, tourism was improving, and there was peace at the Line of Control. "These are not the circumstances we created," he said, adding that India only acted because of the attack. Under 'Operation Sindoor', India targeted nine terror-linked sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, and Neelum Valley. Government sources said 70 terrorists were killed, and 60 were injured in the missile strikes.

Pakistan¡¯s response hit civilians, says Abdullah

While India made sure its strikes were limited to terror bases, Abdullah said Pakistan responded with ¡°arbitrary and indiscriminate firing¡± across the LoC and International Border. This shelling, according to the Chief Minister, has killed three civilians in the Poonch sector, including a 12-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. He said the Pakistani response was anything but proportionate and had clearly targeted civilian areas. He said he had spoken to district officials and confirmed the reports.

Omar Abdullah | Credit: X

J&K government steps up Civilian protection

Abdullah held a video conference with district collectors and reviewed the security situation along the LoC. He said additional ambulances have been moved to forward areas, and focus is currently on safeguarding lives. The Finance Department has been directed to release contingency funds for those killed in the attacks, with additional assistance for those along the LoC. ¡°At the moment, we can¡¯t do much more because the shelling is ongoing,¡± he said, but assured that the government is monitoring the situation and would act as needed.