"Not an escalatory measure": Former diplomat Gautam Bambawale on Operation Sindoor

New Delhi [India], May 7 (ANI): Former Indian Ambassador to China, Gautam Bambawale, stated on Wednesday that Operation Sindoor should not be viewed as an 'escalatory move,' but rather as a deterrent aimed at preventing Pakistan from aiding, financing, and training terrorists and sending them to India.
Speaking to ANI, Bambawale stated that the nine sites which were targeted by the Indian Armed Forces have been major planning, control and training areas for different terror groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
"I think what happened earlier this morning will send a very important signal. I believe that this is not an escalatory measure that we have taken. We have targeted exactly only the terrorist areas where they live, work, and train, and that is a very important signal. I think it has been a good action," the former Diplomat said.
"I am very happy that the government of India has taken this step because we had indicated very clearly to Pakistan that in 2016, after Uri, and in 2019, after Pulwama, that this kind of terrorist activity in India will not be without their cost. So we have increased the cost to the terrorists and I am very happy that the 9 sites which were targeted by our strategic missiles have been sites where there have been major terrorists planning, control and training of not only LeT but also JeM and other such groups," he added.
"All governments of India have done their duty to the country. But I think it was very important to send a message, a message to deter Pakistan from aiding, financing, and training terrorists and sending them to India," he further stated.
Responding to the further escalation, the former diplomat Bambawale, "That (possibility of a response) is something which the Pakistan people, Govt and the Army have to decide. But I believe that the step that India has taken is non-escalatory but we will wait and see. If there is a response from the other side, I am sure that India will respond accordingly also."
On Wednesday, the Indian Armed Forces shared details about Operation Sindoor, a targeted strike mission to destroy terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The information was shared in the media briefing consisting of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Col Sophiya Qureshi. While speaking to the media, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who briefed the media along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Col Sofiya Qureshi, said that 'Operation Sindoor' was launched to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched a strike at the terror hideouts deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir under 'Operation Sindoor' on Wednesday morning. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh informed that a total of nine terror sites were targeted and successfully destroyed. She asserted that the locations were selected so that there was no damage to civilians and their infrastructure.
"Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed... The locations were so selected to avoid damage to civilian infrastructures and loss of any civilian lives," Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said.
Meanwhile, during the press briefing, Col Sofiya Qureshi presented the videos of the destruction of terror camps, including from the Muridke and where David Headley and Ajmal Kasab, perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, received training. Other than Muridke, Sarjal camp in Sialkot, Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala and Markaz Abbas, Kotli and Mehmoona Joya camp, Sialkot, were targeted in the strikes conducted by the Indian Army, Col Qureshi informed. (ANI)