Political Parties Across the Spectrum Support Strikes on Terror Camps in Pakistan, Laud Armed Forces

New Delhi: A cross-section of political parties and leaders have come out in support of the early morning precision attacks on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. 

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said, “The government of India, the Indian Defence Forces have gone out of their way to ensure that no military and civilian targets were hit. They have only hit terror bases and launchpads.”  

“Unfortunately the response is anything but proportionate. We are in this situation because of them. If they had not targeted our innocent civilians, then we would not have been here. We did not provoke this. We have responded to a provocation. Now it is for Pakistan to realise that our response was limited to what happened in Pahalgam. They must be careful not to escalate things beyond control.”

Abdullah also confirmed reports of injuries suffered by civilians in the retaliatory artillery firing from Pakistan in Kashmir’s Poonch sector. He said that he is dealing with the situation and extending all the help possible to the victims. 

'Since Pahalgam Terror Attack, Congress has categorically stood with the Armed Forces and the Government'

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge supported the armed forces and said, “India has an unflinching National Policy against all forms of terrorism emanating from Pakistan and PoK. We are extremely proud of our Indian Armed Forces who have stuck terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. We applaud their resolute resolve and courage.”

“Since the day of the Pahalgam Terror Attack, the Indian National Congress has categorically stood with the Armed Forces and the Government to take any decisive action against cross border terror. National Unity and solidarity is the need of the hour and the Indian National Congress stands with our Armed Forces. Our leaders have shown the path in the past, and national interest is supreme for us,” he said. 

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted a one-liner on X. “Proud of our Armed Forces. Jai Hind!,” he said.

The grand old party’s chief spokesperson and senior leader Jairam Ramesh reiterated Congress’s support to the government in the all-party meeting held after the Pahalgam terror attack. 

“India's commitment to eliminating all sources of terrorism in Pakistan and PoK has necessarily to be uncompromising and always be anchored in the supreme national interest. This is a time for unity and solidarity. Right from the night of April 22nd, the INC has been categorically stating that the Govt will have our fullest support in the nation’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The INC is standing firmly with our armed forces,” he said. 

BJPs X handle shared the union government’s press release on X and tagged it with the slogan “Jai Hind”. The BJP also chose to flex its muscle on the occasion by sharing a video of visuals of the strikes and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches with the caption, "कहा था न, चुन-चुन कर मारेंगे! (I told you, I will kill them one by one!)

The saffron party’s president J.P. Nadda said, “This is Bharat’s message for Pahalgam. If you tease us, then we will not leave you. Prime Minister Modi ji has said that those who attack Bharat’s soul will not be spared. Bharat is both equipped an determined to uproot terrorism. We will wipe out the bleeding wound of terrorism.”

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar)’s spokesperson Anish Gawande in his preliminary remarks said that “...a responsible opposition must refrain from grandstanding or war-mongering”. 

“We pray for peace, we pray for safety. I pray especially for those living along the border - who carry the weight of war without ever choosing it,” he said. 

Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD congratulate Indian Army

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray believed that the attack served the terrorists well. “Terrorism in all its forms has to be eliminated... Hit them, hard enough that terrorism doesn't stand a chance ever again. Jai Hind!,” he said. 

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi celebrated the precision attacks. “They asked about religion. Now suffer your karma. Indian Army," she said. 

“Pakistani civilians should thank the Indian Army for dismantling the terror infrastructure created, aided, abetted by their Pakistani army generals. We entered your house and cleaned it up,” she added. 

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav congratulated the Indian Army. “ Hail India! There should be neither terror nor separatism! We are proud of our brave soldiers and the Indian Army,” he said. 

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the strikes.

"I welcome the surgical strikes carried out by defence forces on terror camps in Pakistan. The Pakistani deep state must be taught a tough lesson so that another Pahalgam never happens again. Pakistan’s terror infrastructure must be completely destroyed. Jai Hind,” he said.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s politburo in its statement said that it has already extended its support to the government in its measures “aimed against the terrorists and their handlers.” It urged the government to build greater pressure on Pakistan along with the strikes.

“Along with these actions, pressure should be continued on Pakistan to hand over those responsible for the massacre of innocent people in Pahalgam and to ensure that no terrorist camps operate from its territory. The Indian government should ensure that the unity of the people and integrity of the country are protected,” the CPI(M) said.

CPI (ML) Liberation only Party to Call for 'de-escalation and diplomacy'

The Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Liberation (CPI (ML) Liberation), however, stood out as the only party to call for “de-escalation and diplomacy” to “avoid another India-Pakistan war.

“The Indian authorities have attributed the operation to credible intelligence inputs and have described it as a precise and restrained response carried out with a calibrated and non-escalatory approach. Pakistan however talks of civilian casualties including women and children. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, there are already reports of cross-border firing and several civilian deaths in Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.

“Clearly there are alarming signs of yet another Indo-Pak war looming large. All efforts must be made to prevent a war between the two nuclear-powered neighbours and explore the whole range of non-military diplomatic options to curb terrorism and de-escalate tension,” it added.

It said that the union government’s announcement of extensive mock drills in 200 centres were “techniques of bolstering security by spreading public alertness” but it should “make sure that such drills do not vitiate India's internal climate and create a jingoistic clamour for war.”

At the same time, it urged the government of Pakistan to stop the terror camps. “We also call upon the government of Pakistan to stop the terror camps in Pakistan, and appeal to the people of Pakistan to raise their voice against terror and war. Across the India-Pakistan border, let us say a loud no to another India-Pakistan war and mount pressure for bilateral deescalation of tension,” the party said.