India has right to defend against Pak terror: MEA

India on Thursday reiterated its right to defend itself against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorist activities and affirmed its commitment to strengthening the global fight against terror.

"We are marking the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor today. The entire world saw the Pahalgam terrorist attack for what it was. We gave a befitting reply to Pakistan for its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

"The world knows that cross-border terrorism has long been an instrument of state policy for Pakistan. We, in India, have every right to defend ourselves against terrorism," he said during his weekly media briefing.


Jaiswal said India will continue to work towards strengthening the global fight against terrorism.

Jaiswal also rejected recent allegations made by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), which linked India to foreign interference in Canada. "India's position on this particular issue has been clear and consistent, and we have spoken about it on several occasions in the past as well. We categorically reject such baseless imputations. India is a democracy that adheres to international norms and respects the sovereignty of other nations. It is not our policy to interfere in issues of other countries. We believe that any concerns of this nature should be addressed through established mechanisms rather than through politicised or public narratives," Jaiswal said.