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Post strike, India mounts fresh diplomatic offensive

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NEW DELHI: Almost immediately after Indian forces pounded terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK to rubble, NSA Ajit Doval reached out to his counterparts from across the world, including the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Japan to brief them about India’s non-escalatory and restrained response. According to government sources, he briefed them about the method of execution of the military strikes, while stressing that India had no intention to escalate but was prepared to retaliate “resolutely” if Pakistan chooses to respond militarily.

Doval also spoke to his counterparts from Russia, France and China. The NSA explained to his counterparts that India’s action was precise and focused, and no civilian, military or economic targets were hit. Most countries are said to have been supportive of India’s “zero tolerance” policy towards the terrorism, even as they urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and de-escalate.

US secretary of state and NSA Marco Rubio urged both sides to keep lines of communication open and avoid escalation. Both Japan and China called for restraint, while condemning terrorism. China, however, described the military strikes as regrettable.

Separately, foreign minister S Jaishankar had a telecon with his counterparts from Germany and France, appreciating their solidarity with India and support for zero-tolerance towards terrorism. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri also briefed envoys of 13 countries, all UNSC member-states including China, and raised 4 issues with them. These included the current escalation by the Pakistani side including at the LoC, its shielding of LeT-backed TRF, targeted Indian response and the barbaric way tourists in Pahalgam were killed. He’s also learnt to have spoken about cross-border linkages of the terrorists including their communication nodes in and to Pakistan.

Misri too made it clear that if Pakistan responds, India will respond too. Responding to a question from one of the ambassadors, the foreign secretary said that the onus of de-escalation was on Pakistan as India had only responded to a terrorist attack. Asked if India had achieved its objective, Misri pointed to the fact that India had hit 9 terror camps. The UK asked about the targeting of civilians in a mosque, to which Misri said the structure comprised a complex that included a terror camp. The Indian mission in the UN, sources said, is also reaching out to UNSC members in New York.

Important partners like Russia and Japan strongly condemned terrorism but also urged India and Pakistan to avoid any escalation. Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya spoke to Jaishankar and said that “fair investigation and punishment” of offenders of this terrorist attack are important.

Iwaya also stated that Japan is deeply concerned that the recent series of events could lead to further reprisals and escalate into a full-scale military conflict, while urging both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilize the situation through dialogue for peace and stability in South Asia. Russia again called upon both countries to resolve their agreements in line with the 1972 Simla Agreement and the 1999 Lahore Declaration. France also sought restraint and de-escalation.
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