Chennai, July 11, KNT: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday came down heavily on sections of the foreign media for misreporting India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor, which was carried out in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians in Kashmir.
Speaking at the 62nd Convocation of IIT Madras, Doval lashed out at global media outlets for amplifying false narratives and failing to acknowledge the accuracy and restraint demonstrated by Indian armed forces during their cross-border military action on May 7.
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“The foreign press said Pakistan did this and that… But you tell me, show me even a single photograph where any damage occurred to Indian infrastructure. Was even a glass pane broken? Nothing. But images of 13 air bases in Pakistan after the May 10 strikes were out there—Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Chaklala,” Doval said, citing open-source visuals that surfaced post-strike.
The precision strike mission, dubbed Operation Sindoor, reportedly targeted nine terror hubs across the interior regions of Pakistan, bypassing border areas entirely. According to Indian defence officials, the strikes eliminated over 100 terrorists and inflicted substantial damage on terror infrastructure affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
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Doval: ‘We Missed None. We Hit Nowhere Else.’
Lauding the flawless execution of the mission, Doval said:
“We decided to hit nine terrorist targets deep inside the criss-cross of Pakistan. We missed none. We hit nowhere else except those. It was precise to the point—we knew exactly who was where.”
The NSA also emphasised the indigenous capacity of Indian defence forces, stating that most of the weapons used in the strikes were domestically developed, showcasing India’s advancing technological prowess.
“We’re really proud of how much indigenous content was there in Operation Sindoor. We must continue to build and rely on our own technology,” he said.
Western Media Accused of Echoing Pakistan’s Narrative
Doval expressed disappointment over the Western media’s portrayal of the May 7 retaliatory action, which some outlets described as attacks on civilian zones. Reports from The Guardian, The Times, and others echoed the Pakistan government’s claims, alleging civilian casualties and suggesting that India struck areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) indiscriminately.
However, Doval strongly dismissed these claims, stating there is no photographic or material evidence of damage to civilian areas in Pakistan or to Indian infrastructure.
“They [foreign media] wrote things, put out stories… but the imagery only shows the damaged Pakistani air bases—nothing else. No civilian damage. And certainly no Indian infrastructure touched,” he reiterated.
NYT Acknowledges India’s Military Precision
Interestingly, a detailed investigation published by the New York Times on May 14 contradicted the broader Western narrative, confirming that India’s missile strikes were “limited but precise”, and successfully damaged multiple Pakistani military facilities.
“High-resolution satellite imagery from before and after the strikes shows clear damage to Pakistan’s facilities by Indian attacks,” the NYT reported.
The article confirmed hits on Bholari air base near Karachi, where an aircraft hangar was destroyed, and on Nur Khan air base, located dangerously close to Pakistan’s military headquarters and nuclear command infrastructure.
April 22 Massacre in Pahalgam Ignored by Global Press
Doval also criticised international media houses for downplaying the April 22 terrorist attack at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed. While Indian authorities condemned the attack as a brutal act of terrorism, many global outlets chose to label the assailants as “gunmen” or “militants”, avoiding the term “terrorists” altogether.
“A large section of the Western press didn’t even acknowledge it as a terrorist attack. They played with words, diluted the brutality. Why such double standards?” Doval asked.
India Shows Strength, Seeks Recognition for Restraint
Doval concluded by asserting that India is capable of dealing with threats both defensively and offensively, but continues to exercise restraint and precision to avoid unnecessary escalation or civilian harm.
The Indian strikes, according to defence analysts, were a strategic signal of strength—displaying India’s surgical capabilities while respecting international laws of engagement.
Despite this, the NSA’s address clearly indicates that India is disappointed by the global narrative surrounding its right to self-defence and calls for greater objectivity from international media.
As of now, there has been no official response from Pakistan’s military to the NYT’s confirmation of air base damage.
