'No intent to escalate but prepared to retaliate', says NSA Ajit Doval after Operation Sindoor

NEW DELHI: Following Operation Sindoor by the Indian Army in the early hours of Wednesday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval told his counterparts in several countries that India has no intention of escalating tensions.

However, he reaffirmed that India is prepared to "retaliate resolutely" if Pakistan takes any hostile action, officials told PTI.

"NSA briefed his counterparts on actions taken and method of execution, which was measured, non-escalatory and restrained. He emphasised that India had no intent to escalate but was well prepared to retaliate resolutely should Pakistan decide to escalate," the official said.

Doval established contact with countries including the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, Russia, France, and Japan regarding India's missile strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and briefed their officials.

The NSA spoke to US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, UK’s Jonathan Powell, Saudi Arabia’s Musaid Al Aiban, UAE’s H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon, and Japan’s Masataka Okano.

"Contact was also established with Russian NSA Sergei Shoigu, Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of PRC Wang Yi and Diplomatic Adviser to French President Emmanuel Bonne," the official said.

The discussions took place soon after India carried out Operation Sindoor at nine sites.