External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly rejected Congress’s accusation that he warned Pakistan ahead of India's military action, Operation Sindoor. During a Parliament consultative committee meeting on cross-border terrorism, he described the claims as “dishonest” and “a misrepresentation of events,” according to sources familiar with the discussion.

Congress Questions Jaishankar’s Actions

On Monday, the Congress party raised a serious allegation. They claimed that Jaishankar had informed Pakistan before India launched strikes on terrorist bases across the border. This issue came up while the committee discussed India’s response to cross-border terrorism.

At the meeting, Jaishankar urged all political leaders to maintain “national unity,” especially as Indian MPs were visiting global capitals. He emphasized that the current international briefings on Operation Sindoor should reflect a united Indian position. Several MPs from different political parties are currently part of delegations explaining India’s anti-terrorism stance to foreign governments.

Rahul Gandhi’s Accusation

The controversy intensified after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Jaishankar of admitting that India had warned Pakistan before the operation began. He questioned the consequences of such a decision. In a post on X, Gandhi asked, “Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that the GOI did it. Who authorised it? How many aircraft did our air force lose as a result?”

He also posted an old video of Jaishankar. In the clip, the minister said, “At the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan, saying, ‘We are striking at terrorist infrastructure and we are not striking at the military. So the military has the option of standing out and not interfering in this process. They chose not to take that good advice.’” According to Gandhi, this statement showed that the government deliberately informed Pakistan before the operation. He viewed it as a dangerous move.

Government Refutes the Allegation

However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied the accusation. Officials stated that Gandhi and others were twisting Jaishankar’s words. The MEA said any such interpretation amounted to an “utter misrepresentation” of the facts.

Additionally, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) stepped in to fact-check the viral video. Its Fact Check Unit stated that Jaishankar did not say India had informed Pakistan in advance of the attack. The agency called the claim false and misleading. According to them, the minister’s comment had been quoted out of context.