Is India Really Not Interested in War but Against Terrorism? A. K. Antony Speaks Out

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India stands firmly against terrorism.
- Global support for India has reached unprecedented levels.
- Indian Armed Forces are committed to eliminating terrorist threats.
- Recent operations have resulted in significant casualties among terrorist groups.
- Peace and stability in Kashmir remain a priority.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 7 (NationPress) Former Defence Minister A. K. Antony emphasized on Wednesday that the actions of the Indian Armed Forces during 'Operation Sindhoor' should not be classified as a war.
"India is not inclined towards war but stands firmly against terrorism. The global community is united in support of India. It is unprecedented for the world to rally behind India in this manner, particularly in the fight against terrorism," Antony remarked while addressing the media at his residence in the state capital.
"The loss of innocent tourists is tragic, and I have complete confidence in our Armed Forces. My utmost respect goes to them," he added.
"This is not the conclusion; it is merely the beginning, and I have no intention of igniting controversy," Antony stated.
He expressed unwavering confidence that the Indian military will bring to justice those responsible for the recent terror assault on India.
"Kashmir was seeing a return to normalcy, with tourism flourishing and residents content. It was during this period that the terror attack occurred. The world is clearly observing and stands firmly with India," said Antony, who has stepped back from active politics.
"The government has provided complete authority to our forces to eliminate terrorists," he asserted.
At 84, Antony served as Defence Minister from 2006 to 2014 and has held the Chief Minister position on three occasions.
Indian forces have targeted several terror bases and camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan, as reported by two women officers of the Indian Armed Forces on Wednesday.
In a span of just 25 minutes, between 1:05 a.m. and 1:30 a.m., Indian forces launched 24 missiles that accurately struck nine terror facilities across Pakistan and PoK, resulting in the deaths of approximately 70 terrorists.