MEA Refutes Claims on Jaishankar’s ‘Warned Pakistan’ Remark
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong rebuttal to reports alleging that External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar warned Pakistan ahead of India’s military retaliation under Operation Sindoor. The MEA has termed the narrative as a “misrepresentation of facts” and stressed that no prior intimation was given to Pakistan before the operation was launched.
Jaishankar Pakistan Warning
The controversy emerged following media interpretations of Jaishankar’s public remarks. While speaking at a forum, Jaishankar had said, “We had warned Pakistan at the start.” This phrase was picked up by several outlets and commentators, suggesting that India had informed Pakistan in advance of launching the cross-border operation.
However, the MEA has now clarified that the phrase “at the start” referred to the beginning phase of Operation Sindoor itself — not any moment before its execution. In short, the statement was not about forewarning Pakistan but about communicating India’s position after military action had already commenced.
MEA Clarification
In its formal clarification, the MEA explained that the interpretation being circulated was not only inaccurate but also detrimental to the credibility of India’s security and foreign policy posture. “The context of the minister’s statement has been grossly misinterpreted,” the MEA said.
The External Publicity Division of the ministry emphasized that India follows a policy of strategic discretion in military matters and does not share operational plans with adversarial entities. Additionally, the Press Information Bureau’s fact-checking division supported the MEA’s clarification, labeling viral claims about a prior warning as “fake” and “misleading.”
Operation Sindoor Context
Operation Sindoor was India’s decisive military action in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of several security personnel. The operation involved precision strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and other strategic locations.
The MEA’s clarification reaffirms that diplomatic channels were used only after the first wave of the operation, and that India’s sovereignty and operational secrecy were fully preserved throughout the process. This statement also underlines India’s effort to combat misinformation surrounding its defense policy.
As tensions remain high in the region, the MEA has urged both the media and the public to exercise caution in interpreting high-level statements, especially when they pertain to matters of national security and cross-border military operations.
