Operation Sindoor ‘ongoing’, at least 100 terrorists killed, met intended goals: Rajnath Singh tells parties

The second all-party meeting after the Pahalgam strike on April 22 saw leaders across party lines lauding Operation Sindoor, and once again pledging unequivocal support to the government in whatever actions it takes against the perpetrators of the attack and their handlers.

Sources said Opposition leaders broadly flagged three issues – the protection of civilians in border villages of Jammu and Kashmir which are facing intense shelling by Pakistan, the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the meeting, and the need for a special Parliament Session.

The government side was led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and included Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman – all members of the Cabinet Committee on Security, along with PM Modi.

After the meeting, Kharge said: “He (Modi) was not there at the last meeting as well… This is his intention. He thinks he is above Parliament… It is alright.. We will ask when the time comes, but in this hour of crisis… we don’t want to criticise anybody.” Other senior leaders, including the Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh, also commented on Modi’s absence at the meeting.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi told the media that the Opposition had extended complete support to the Government.

In his briefing to the Opposition leaders, Singh is learnt to have said that the initial assessment of the government is that at least 100 terrorists, including some hardcore terrorists, were eliminated in the strikes.

The Defence Minister mentioned reports that Pakistan could target key centres including airports in India, and said that the all-party meeting was convened to send out a “strong and unanimous message” in support of the armed forces.

Kharge told reporters: “They said some things related to security are confidential and cannot be revealed at this point of time… We all said we are with you in this hour of crisis… in national interest. Aap jo kaam kar rahe hain karte rahiye (You keep doing what you are doing).”

Sources said the CPI(M)’s John Brittas urged that India now take the lead in de-escalation of tensions. War is not a solution, he said, quoting a statement he attributed to BJP leader and former PM A B Vajpayee, that “You can decide when to start a war, but the decision of when it ends, is not in your hand”.

Referring to Singh’s remarks that the intended objective behind the strikes had been achieved, Brittas said it was now time to ensure there was no escalation. He also asked the government to detail the steps being taken to pressure Pakistan to hand over Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, given that his name came up in every terror strike against India.

Brittas hoped the government would organise an all-party delegation to Kashmir some time in the future to convey solidarity with the people of the Valley.

Talking to reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju Kiren said the all-party meeting was convened to evolve a broad political consensus and appreciated the fact that there was no bickering among parties.

“All the political leaders showed maturity… All the leaders in one voice lauded Operation Sindoor and hailed our armed forces… In a way, they showed that the country is facing challenging times and it was not the time for politics… They said they are with the government in the decisions that it takes, and every action of the Army,” Rijiju said.

“The Raksha Mantri told the meeting that it was an ongoing operation and that is why he cannot share the technical details of Operation Sindoor,” he said. While he admitted that the Opposition had shared its concerns over national security and the safety of people, especially in border areas, it had extended full support to the government, Rijiju said. “The entire nation is united with the government and the armed forces (against terrorism).”

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who attended the meeting, said he complimented the armed forces and the government for Operation Sindoor. “I also said that we should run an international campaign against the TRF (The Resistance Force, which initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack), and that the UN Security Council should designate it as a terror organisation. We also need to ask the United States to designate the TRF as a foreign terrorist organisation,” he said.

He asked the government to make diplomatic efforts to ensure that Pakistan is put again on the Financial Action Task Force greylist. Referring to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) India just signed with the UK, he asked the government to mount pressure on London to ban the TRF and impose sanctions on Pakistan. He also wanted the government to do the same with the US, given that New Delhi and Washington are in talks over signing an FTA.

Owaisi sought compensation for families of those killed in Pakistani firing and shelling, and financial assistance for those who have lost their houses. He told the government to take note of Turkey’s support to Pakistan and tell it clearly that it cannot question India when it itself takes actions against armed Kurdish groups in its own country and outside.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut is said to have told the government that it should not call off the operation until the terrorists behind Pahalgam were caught and dealt with in public.