India has condemned Pakistan for reportedly conducting state funerals for militants killed during recent Indian airstrikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling the move both troubling and telling.
At a media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri displayed a photo showing uniformed Pakistani military and police personnel offering prayers over coffins draped in the national flag. He questioned the symbolism of such images, noting that even a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) member was seen leading a funeral prayer. “If those killed were civilians, what message does this image send?” Misri asked, pointing out the unusual nature of state honours being extended to alleged civilians.
Rejecting Islamabad’s claim that civilians were among those killed, Misri asserted, “As far as we are concerned, those eliminated were terrorists. Pakistan may choose to hold state funerals for them, but that doesn’t make it any more rational to us.”
The airstrikes, part of Operation Sindoor, were launched on Wednesday and reportedly neutralised nearly 100 terrorists. The Indian military described the operation as a high-precision strike on terrorist infrastructure. It followed an attack two weeks earlier in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed by militants based in Pakistan.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the mission, highlighting its “unimaginable precision.” Meanwhile, Misri reiterated India’s long-standing accusation that Pakistan harbours and supports cross-border terrorism. “Despite its denial, Pakistan’s reputation as a global hub for terrorism is backed by extensive evidence, acknowledged internationally,” he said.
He also underlined that India’s actions were in direct response to the Pahalgam attack, which he termed the “original escalation.” Misri emphasised that the strikes were limited, targeted, and designed to avoid further conflict. “Our response has been restrained and solely focused on terrorist targets,” he stated.
The Ministry of External Affairs maintained that India is not seeking escalation but is compelled to respond to acts of terror with proportionate force.