New Delhi, May 8 – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed leaders during an all-party meeting on Thursday that at least 100 terrorists were killed in India’s missile strikes on terrorist camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the ongoing 'Operation Sindoor'. The meeting, convened amid rising tensions following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, sought to brief political leaders on the security situation and garner broader consensus.
As per agency report, Singh stated that the operation remains active and warned that India is fully prepared to retaliate should Pakistan respond militarily to its targeted strikes. He refrained from disclosing technical details, citing the sensitive and ongoing nature of the operation. Singh emphasized that the operation is part of India’s sustained efforts to eliminate cross-border terrorism and protect national interests.
Political leaders from across the spectrum, including those from the opposition, extended their full support to the government's anti-terror action and expressed solidarity with the armed forces. Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi suggested convening a special session of Parliament to send a strong national message. However, no formal response from the government on this proposal was given during the meeting.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who also attended the meeting, told reporters afterward that the gathering was marked by political maturity and unity. He said all participants voiced concern for national security, particularly in border areas, but there was unanimous backing for the government’s actions. Rijiju emphasized that the entire country stands united with the armed forces and hailed their swift and effective response.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge later addressed the media, reiterating support for the strikes but expressing disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from the meeting. He noted that this was not the first time the Prime Minister had skipped such a high-level briefing. Kharge added that all parties agreed on the need to enhance the safety of people living near the border and ensure adequate support for the families of those killed in the Pahalgam attack.
Kharge confirmed that the military action targeted only terrorist facilities in Pakistan, including the Jaish-e-Mohammed stronghold in Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba base in Muridke. He said leaders from the opposition, including the INDIA alliance, voiced their support for every step taken to fight terrorism.
The meeting saw participation from top leaders across party lines, including BJP ministers Amit Shah, S. Jaishankar, J.P. Nadda, and Nirmala Sitharaman, as well as opposition figures like Sudip Bandopadhyay (TMC), T.R. Baalu (DMK), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena-UBT), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Sasmit Patra (BJD), and John Brittas (CPI-M). Leaders from JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), and AIMIM, including Chirag Paswan and Asaduddin Owaisi, also participated.
The missile strikes under Operation Sindoor were launched late Tuesday night and targeted nine terror bases in Pakistan and PoK, in direct retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. This was the second all-party meeting convened in the past fortnight, with the first held on April 24 to brief leaders on the Pahalgam incident.
The meeting underlined a rare moment of national political consensus and highlighted India’s firm resolve to counter terrorism beyond its borders.
