NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, D.C., May 18, 2025: India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, firmly defended India’s recent air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during an interview on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown on Wednesday. Ambassador Kwatra emphasized that India’s military action was a “measured, calibrated, and proportionate” response to a brutal terrorist attack carried out on April 22 by Pakistan-backed militants.
Kwatra said the April 22 attack claimed the lives of 26 civilians — 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali — in what he described as “subhuman, monstrous killings.” The victims, he said, were executed in front of their wives and children, specifically targeted based on religion, with non-Muslims being singled out and shot in the head.
According to Kwatra, India targeted nine terror facilities located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), steering clear of civilian, economic, or military installations. “We were very careful and deliberate. Our objective was to take out the terror factories — where they trained, armed, and deployed these terrorists,” he said.
When asked if the conflict was part of a religious war between Pakistani Muslims and Indian Hindus, Ambassador Vinay Kwatra responded: “I think it is Indian action against the terrorists. The ones who carried out those killings of the civilians—our frame of reference in doing these attacks, in holding them accountable, is holding terrorism accountable. It is India and terror activities backed by Pakistan that were responsible for killing all the 26 civilians.”
When Pamela Brown referred to “Indian-administered Kashmir,” Ambassador Kwatra promptly corrected her, stating that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir is “an integral part of India.” He added that the only pending issue is the return of Pakistan-occupied territories.
In response to a question about rising tensions and potential retaliation, Kwatra asserted that India’s actions were complete as of the day before the interview. “From our perspective, we brought a certain finality to our operations,” he said. “But Pakistan has chosen to escalate further.”
He claimed that Pakistan attempted to hit Indian military targets the following morning, implying that such moves reflect Islamabad’s continued support for terrorism rather than peace. “Pakistan is sending a clear message to the world: that they stand with terrorists,” he added.
When pressed repeatedly on whether India and Pakistan are at war, Kwatra said, “We are at war with terror”. He reiterated that India’s objective was justice for the victims and accountability for those who carried out and supported the attacks.
With both India and Pakistan being nuclear powers, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer raised global concerns about possible escalation. Kwatra shifted the responsibility back to Islamabad. ” I think that’s what the world should be concerned about, and I think that’s what the world should tell Pakistan– to stop supporting terrorism. I think that’s the crux of the question.”
Kwatra declined to comment on operational specifics, including Pakistan’s claim that it had shot down Indian military jets and killed dozens of soldiers. He accused Pakistan of running a “misinformation campaign” and said the facts would emerge in due course.
Throughout the interview, Kwatra emphasized that India had shown restraint and resolve, and had acted as a responsible global player while refusing to allow acts of terror to go unanswered.
“As a sovereign nation, we have a duty to protect our citizens and ensure justice for those lost to barbarism,” he said.
