By the High Commissioner of India to Sierra Leone, Baisnab Charan Pradhan
One year ago, the world witnessed yet another brutal reminder of the destructive force of terrorism. On 22 April 2025, terrorists affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-backed and UN-proscribed terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), carried out a heinous attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Twenty-six innocent lives were lost, including twenty-five Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. It was the deadliest terrorist attack on civilians in India since the horrific Mumbai attacks of 2008.
The pain and outrage felt across India were profound. Yet, India’s response was guided not by vengeance, but by responsibility, restraint, and resolve.
On 7 May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a calibrated and precise counter-terror operation aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure and preventing future attacks. The operation targeted terror camps and operational nodes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir that had long served as sanctuaries for groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Key terror hubs, including Bahawalpur, Muridke and Muzaffarabad, were struck with precision.
India’s actions were measured, non-escalatory, and focused solely on terror infrastructure. No Pakistani military establishment was targeted during the initial phase of the operation. India exercised its inherent right of self-defense under international law and sent a clear message: terrorism and those who sponsor it cannot operate with impunity.
Unfortunately, instead of de-escalating, Pakistan responded with attacks targeting military and civilian areas, resulting in further loss of life. India was compelled to respond to these provocations. The Indian Armed Forces subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes against major Pakistan Air Force bases. Satellite imagery and independent assessments later confirmed the extent of the damage inflicted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing personnel at Air Force Station Adampur, aptly described Operation Sindoor as a “trinity of India’s policy, intent and decisive capability.” The operation demonstrated not only India’s military preparedness, but also the courage, professionalism and restraint of its armed forces.
Beyond the battlefield, Operation Sindoor marked an important turning point in the global fight against terrorism.
India intensified its diplomatic outreach to ensure that the international community remained seized of the gravity of cross-border terrorism. Seven all-party parliamentary delegations, comprising 59 Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, visited 33 countries to convey India’s unwavering position of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
As part of this outreach, an Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde visited Sierra Leone from 28–30 May 2025. The visit reflected the growing strategic partnership and enduring friendship between India and Sierra Leone.
The delegation held substantive discussions with senior Sierra Leonean leaders, including the Vice President, the Acting Foreign Minister, the Speaker and Members of Parliament, the Deputy Minister of Defence, and the National Security Coordinator. India’s position was conveyed clearly: terrorism is a global threat that requires a united global response.
Sierra Leone responded with remarkable solidarity and moral clarity. The Parliament of Sierra Leone condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack and observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims. The Vice President of Sierra Leone conveyed heartfelt condolences and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s solidarity with India.
Notably, Deputy Defence Minister Col. (Retd.) Muana Brima Massaquoi emphasized the urgent need for African countries to unite against terrorism, cautioning that complacency today could allow the menace to spread further tomorrow. Such statements underscore the growing international recognition that terrorism anywhere threatens peace everywhere.
The delegation also engaged with diplomats, media representatives, civil society, and the vibrant Indian diaspora in Sierra Leone. During a televised interview on AYV News, Member of Parliament Dr. Sasmit Patra underscored the urgent need for Pakistan to abandon the policy of state-sponsored terrorism. His remarks resonated strongly with local audiences and reinforced India’s principled stand.
India’s efforts at the multilateral level also yielded important outcomes. In July 2025, the 36th Report of the UN Security Council’s 1267 Monitoring Team included a reference to the Pahalgam attack and acknowledged the role of TRF. Significantly, this marked the first reference to Lashkar-e-Toiba in the Monitoring Team’s report since 2019. The report was adopted by consensus, even while Pakistan was serving as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
Further, the United States designated TRF as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), reflecting the growing international consensus against terror proxies and their sponsors.
Operation Sindoor has established a new benchmark in India’s counter-terrorism doctrine. It has demonstrated that India will respond firmly and decisively to acts of terror, while acting responsibly and within the framework of international law.
Three principles now define India’s approach.
First, India will respond to terrorism on its own terms and will hold accountable those who shelter, support, finance or sponsor terror.
Second, India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail or intimidation. Terrorist safe havens will not be protected behind threats of escalation.
Third, India sees no distinction between terrorists and those who enable them through state support, training, financing or propaganda.
For India, the fight against terrorism is not merely a security imperative; it is a moral responsibility to protect innocent lives and uphold international peace and stability.
India deeply values the solidarity shown by Sierra Leone and the broader international community over the past year. The fight against terrorism transcends borders, religions and regions. It demands collective resolve, sustained cooperation and unwavering moral clarity.
One year after Operation Sindoor, India remains steadfast in its commitment: terrorism will never prevail over humanity, democracy and peace.
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