At Least 100 Terrorists, Associates Killed in Strikes, Op Sindoor On: Rajnath

ALL-PARTY MEETING| Oppn rallies behind govt, hails armed forces

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NEW DELHI: Operation Sindoor is an ongoing operation, and while India does not want to escalate the situation at this point, it will hit back if Pakistan strikes, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told an all-party meeting here on Thursday.

The meeting was held a day after India carried out measured, calibrated airstrikes at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and destroyed terror infrastructure used by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba to carry out attacks on Indian soil.

According to sources, the Defence Minister told the all-party meeting that about 100 terrorists were killed in Wednesday's airstrikes. He, however, stressed that the number was not confirmed and information was still being gathered.

The meeting saw opposition parties fully backing the government in the military action and hailing the armed forces, as leaders across the political spectrum projected a united front amid heightened tensions between the two neighbouring countries in the aftermath of the deadly April 22 terror killings in Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down.

Chairing the meeting, Rajnath Singh, in his briefing and then responding to points raised by the leaders of different parties, said India does not want escalation but will give a befitting reply to Pakistan if attacked, the sources added.