Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Doval Reveals PM Modi's First Reaction After Pahalgam Attack
A very sad thing happened in a place in India called Pahalgam.
Bad people hurt 26 innocent people there.
India's leader, Prime Minister Modi, was on a trip to Saudi Arabia when he heard the news.
He came right back home and asked his security advisor: 'Who did this?
I need to know immediately!'
His security advisor, Ajit Doval, later explained what happened on a TV documentary.
Modi promised to find the bad people no matter where they hide, even 'in hell,' and said they will not be forgiven.
India sent its army to attack nine places where the bad people were hiding in the neighboring country, Pakistan.
India said it stopped some very dangerous people in these attacks, including five known terrorists.
Pakistan fought back, but India said it shot down most of its drones.
The fight lasted almost 88 hours before both countries reached an understanding.
India's message was that it will protect its country and people until the last terrorist is gone.
NSA Ajit Doval revealed PM Modi's first reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack in the Discovery docuseries 'Declassified: Operation Sindoor'.
Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia trip, returned to Delhi, and demanded immediate clarity on who was behind the attack.
Doval said India would go after the perpetrators whether on earth, in the sky, or in hell, and would not forgive them.
India launched Operation Sindoor on the night of May 7-8, 2025, striking nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
India said the strikes killed at least five terrorists from Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba plus 100 others, in response to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, speaking about India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
- What
- Doval revealed Modi's determined first reaction and outlined Operation Sindoor, India's precision strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and PoK.
- When
- One article dates the Pahalgam attack to April 22, 2025; Operation Sindoor was launched early on May 7, 2025 (one article says the night of May 7-8).
- Where
- Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir; strikes hit nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including Muzaffarabad and Bahawalpur.
- Why
- In response to the attack in which terrorists killed 26 civilians, and to send Pakistan a message that supporting terrorism is intolerable.
India's Account
Pakistan's Account
Nature of the military action
India's Account
India called the strikes a 'focused, measured and non-escalatory' response to the Pahalgam attack and said they destroyed terror camps, including those responsible for the attack.
Pakistan's Account
Pakistan launched offensives against India in response to the strikes, though India said most of Pakistan's drones were shot down.
When the conflict escalated
India's Account
India framed the conflict as a response to the Pahalgam killings, with the objective stated as destruction of enemy camps responsible for the attack.
Pakistan's Account
The articles note Pakistan's military offensives kept the conflict going for nearly 88 hours before an understanding was reached on May 10.
- Terror attack location
- Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir
- Civilians killed in attack
- 26
- Military response
- Operation Sindoor
- Operation launch time
- Early May 7, 2025 (one article says night of May 7-8)
- Targets struck
- Nine terror camps and launchpads in Pakistan and PoK, including Muzaffarabad and Bahawalpur
- Reported casualties from strikes
- At least five JeM and LeT terrorists and 100 others killed
- Where reactions were revealed
- Discovery docuseries 'Declassified: Operation Sindoor', which premiered at 9 pm on Discovery and discovery+
- Conflict duration
- Lasted nearly 88 hours; sides reached understanding on evening of May 10
