Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony terms Operation Sindoor a ‘forceful start and just the beginning’

A K Antony (file)
| Photo Credit: S. MAHINSHA

Former Union Minister for Defence and veteran Congress leader A.K. Antony on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) said Operation Sindoor, targeting extremist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was “just the beginning” of India’s anti-terrorist operations. 

Mr. Antony lauded the people of Jammu and Kashmir for rallying behind the armed forces against terrorists who attempted to upend their peaceful life by seeking to crater the State’s fledgeling tourism industry.

He said India stood with its brethren in Jammu and Kashmir and vice versa.

He said the world’s conscience was with India. The Indian Armed Forces had brought the conspirators who orchestrated the slaughter of innocent tourists in Pahalgam to justice. “India stands united when confronting terrorism”, he added.

Mr. Antony termed terrorism a universal menace that transcended national borders and socio-religious differences. 

Mr. Antony, who served as India’s Defence Minister for a decade under the Manmohan Singh government, said the Indian Army had specific objectives. The Central government has given professional freedom to the armed forces to destroy malefactors who use Pakistan as a springboard for bringing terror to India. “Operation Sindoor is a forceful start”, he added.