SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that India has avenged the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead. He said that nine terror camps, including the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), were reduced to rubble deep inside Pakistan.
Speaking at a public gathering here, Shah said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India responded with strength. Operation Sindoor destroyed the JeM and LeT headquarters.”
Shah said this was a clear message to those behind cross-border attacks. “The Indian armed forces went 100 kilometres inside Pakistan to carry out the strikes. Our army made it clear — if anyone harms Indian citizens, they will be held to account. They heard India’s message through the sound of our bombs.”
He said that terror camps in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, and other places inside Pakistan were targeted. “These camps were used to train terrorists and stock weapons meant to be used against India,” he said. “Those who planned attacks and were hiding in Sialkot and other camps have received a clear message — if there is any terrorist activity against Indians, the response will be twice as strong.”
Shah said that before 2014, attacks often went unanswered. “Before Prime Minister Modi took office, Pakistani terrorists would attack and leave without consequence. Now, every act is met with a response,” he said.
He listed India’s retaliatory actions over the past decade, including the 2016 Uri surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot airstrikes after Pulwama, and now Operation Sindoor, as part of a new approach.
Shah said that after India struck the terror camps, the Pakistan Army launched drone and missile attacks on civilian areas from Kutch to Jammu and Kashmir. But India’s air defence systems, upgraded under PM Modi’s leadership, intercepted and neutralised all threats. No harm was done to civilians.
In response, Shah said, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out precision strikes on 15 Pakistani airbases without harming civilians. “Their air power was weakened. For the first time since 1947, Indian forces went 100 kilometres inside Pakistan and dismantled terror infrastructure.”
He said, “Pakistan used to issue nuclear threats. Today, they are afraid. India has shown that it cannot be threatened.”
Shah described Prime Minister Modi as the “son of Gujarat and son of Bharat.” He said the nation is proud of his leadership. “Under him, India has seen strong growth and a firm approach to security. Those who harm civilians now know they will face consequences.”
He praised the Indian armed forces and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protect every Indian. “India has changed. This is New India. New India does not forget or forgive those who harm innocents.” (KNO)
