'India remains open to non-escalation if Pakistan assures the same': Foreign Secy Vikram Misri on Day 2 of Operation Sindoor

In a high stakes press briefing, India addressed the ongoing crisis along the Line of Control (LoC), where unprovoked Pakistani shelling has escalated dramatically. The briefing was led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force. This was the second briefing by the officials held in two days.

The officials detailed the situation on the ground, following heavy artillery attacks from Pakistan targeting multiple sectors, including Uri, Kupwara, Baramulla, Rajouri, and Poonch. According to official statements, 16 civilians have been killed—among them five children and three women—and 59 others injured due to retaliatory fire impacting civilian areas.

“Pakistan has increased intensity of its unprovoked firing across the LoC using heavy cavalry artilleries in areas such as Uri, Kupwara, Baramulla, Rajouri and Poonch. 16 lives lost including 5 children and 3 women,” said Singh during the briefing.

Misri emphasised that India's response has been "non-escalatory" and "measured."

"India's response is non-escalatory. We are only responding to original escalation...(which is) targeted, measured," Misri said. He emphasised that the strikes have exclusively targeted terrorists, with no Pakistani military personnel being harmed. He added that India remains open to non-escalation if Pakistan assures the same.

“India has shown enough patience by upholding the treaty despite repeated provocations. Pakistan has not responded to (requests for) negotiations of the reassessment of the obligation of the Indus Water Treaty,” said Misri.

Misri strongly criticised Pakistan for its longstanding record of sheltering internationally proscribed terrorist groups, such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and individuals like Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed. Citing attacks like those in Mumbai and Pathankot, he pointed out that despite India’s full cooperation, sharing detailed forensic evidence and even forming joint investigation teams, Pakistan failed to take meaningful action. Instead, he said, the country used the evidence to shield and defend the very terrorists India sought.

Misri also highlighted Pakistan’s contradictory stance at the United Nations Security Council, where it attempted to distance itself from The Resistance Front (TRF), even though the group had twice claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. He dismissed Pakistan’s repeated denial of terrorist presence within its borders as false, noting that even its officials were challenged by media when making such claims. Misri asserted that the involvement of Pakistan-based elements in multiple global terror attacks is undeniable.

Responding to media queries, Misri clarified that he has not received any information about communication between India and Pakistan, and no additional steps are currently under consideration.

"I don’t have any information regarding the national security advisors of India and Pakistan speaking with each other," Misri stated.