India’s Response to Pahalgam Massacre Was Precise: Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai
New Delhi, Oct 15: Director General Military Operations (DGMO) and Army’s Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai on Tuesday said that India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack was measured, meticulously planned, and executed with precision.
Speaking at a function in New Delhi, Lt Gen Ghai described the Pahalgam attack — in which 26 tourists were brutally killed by terrorists — as a “sponsored” cross-Line of Control (LoC) strike. “They asked for the community that the tourists came from and shot them in cold blood in front of their families,” he said.
He noted that while the Kashmir Resistance Front initially claimed responsibility for the massacre, it quickly withdrew the claim, realising the global backlash and loss of control over the narrative.
Lt Gen Ghai emphasised that India’s response was not impulsive but deliberate and strategic. “A response was inevitable, but we intentionally took time to plan and prioritise targets,” he said, detailing that operations evolved between April 22 and the night of May 6–7, during which precautionary deployments were made along the borders and coordination was ensured across multiple services and government agencies.
“The final selection of targets was carried out from a large number of options we scrutinised,” he said, adding that a “harmonised and proactive information warfare campaign” was also part of the response strategy.
According to him, after heightened drone activity and continued provocations, the Indian Air Force carried out precision strikes on May 9 and 10, targeting 11 Pakistani air bases — damaging eight bases, three hangars, and four radars, and destroying several air assets on the ground.
Lt Gen Ghai claimed that among the destroyed assets were one C-130 class aircraft, one AEW (airborne early warning) platform, and four to five fighter jets.
“We now know that the world’s longest ever ground-to-air kill was achieved — at over 300 kilometres — neutralising five high-tech fighters,” he said, stressing that the “impunity” with which the Pahalgam attack was carried out necessitated a strong and precise military response.
The DGMO said India’s measured reaction showcased the armed forces’ capability for multi-service coordination, strategic patience, and decisive execution.
Reflecting on the larger security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Gen Ghai said the region has endured over three decades of turmoil. “More than 1,00,000 people, including around 60,000 minority families, had to leave Jammu and Kashmir since 1990 due to threats and violence,” he said, adding that over 15,000 civilians and 3,000 security personnel have lost their lives in the region over the years.
