India’s Defiant Response to Pakistani Protest in Portugal: “Operation Sindoor Is Not Over But”
Lisbon/New Delhi, Might 19, 2025 – The Indian Embassy in Portugal delivered a daring and symbolic rebuke to a protest organized by Pakistani nationals outdoors its Chancery constructing in Lisbon on Sunday, Might 18, 2025, asserting that “Operation Sindoor is just not but over.” The embassy’s response, marked by banners and a agency assertion, underscored India’s resolve to counter what it referred to as “determined provocations” linked to Pakistan-backed terrorism, reigniting tensions stemming from the latest Pahalgam terror assault and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
The protest, described as “cowardly” by the Indian Embassy, noticed Pakistani demonstrators collect close to the embassy, reportedly displaying photos of Pakistan’s Military Chief Common Asim Munir. In response, Indian diplomats, led by Ambassador Puneet Roy Kundal, unfurled banners on the Chancery constructing proclaiming, “Operation Sindoor is just not but over,” a pointed reference to India’s navy strikes towards terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The embassy’s publish on X learn: “Embassy of India @IndiainPortugal responded firmly with ‘Operation Sindoor’ to the cowardly protest organised by Pakistan close to our Chancery constructing. We thank the Authorities of Portugal and its police authorities for his or her assist in making certain the security and safety of the Embassy. India is not going to be intimidated by such determined provocations. Our resolve stays unshaken.”
Ambassador Kundal strengthened the message, stating on X: “Protests organised by Pakistan outdoors the Embassy had been met with a silent but sturdy and resolute message from our facet: ‘Operation Sindoor is just not but over’. All of the Embassy officers had been steadfast on this method.” The show, described by analysts as a “masterstroke” showcasing India’s navy and diplomatic resolve, was meant to remind Pakistan of the precision strikes that destroyed 9 terror camps following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam assault, which killed 26 civilians, principally vacationers.
Context of Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor, launched on Might 7, 2025, was India’s response to the Pahalgam bloodbath, attributed to Pakistan-backed terrorist teams like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Indian armed forces carried out 24 missile strikes in 25 minutes, concentrating on terror infrastructure in places like Muridke, Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, and Kotli, killing over 100 terrorists, together with these linked to historic assaults just like the IC 814 hijacking and Pulwama blasts. The operation’s identify, “Sindoor” (vermilion), referenced the assault’s concentrating on of non-Muslim males, leaving Hindu girls widowed, as survivors reported gunmen segregated victims by faith.
Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile assaults on Might 8–10, concentrating on Indian navy bases and civilian areas, together with a drone strike in Punjab’s Ferozpur that injured a household. India responded with coordinated strikes on Pakistani radar methods, communication facilities, and airfields, together with Jacobabad, Nur Khan, and Sukkur. A ceasefire was brokered on Might 10 after talks between the Administrators Common of Army Operations, however tensions stay excessive. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing air warriors on Might 16, referred to as the operation a “trailer,” warning that Pakistan stays “on probation” and additional motion awaits if provocations persist.
The Lisbon Protest and India’s Messaging
The Pakistani protest in Lisbon, although small, was perceived as an try to challenge Pakistan’s narrative internationally amid world scrutiny of its position in supporting terrorism. Indian officers, together with these on the embassy, seen it as a response to the diplomatic fallout from Operation Sindoor, which garnered assist from India’s political spectrum and cautious requires restraint from allies just like the UK and Saudi Arabia. The embassy’s banner show, coupled with photos of diplomats standing resolute, was a calculated transfer to overshadow the protest and reaffirm India’s anti-terrorism stance.
The Portuguese authorities and police ensured tight safety across the embassy, stopping escalation, a cooperation acknowledged by India. This assist contrasted with Pakistan’s claims of sovereignty violations throughout Operation Sindoor, which it labeled a “blatant act of struggle” that killed 31 civilians, together with a 16-year-old lady and an 18-year-old boy, in strikes on Punjab and PoK. India maintains the operation was “centered and exact,” concentrating on solely terror infrastructure with out civilian, financial, or navy collateral.
Broader Implications
The Lisbon incident displays India’s broader technique of pairing navy decisiveness with diplomatic readability. The reference to Operation Sindoor in Portugal alerts that India’s response to the Pahalgam assault extends past the battlefield, encompassing world diplomatic arenas. Posts on X captured the sentiment, with @ItsShubhangi noting that the Indian mission “left Pakistani protesters rattled with a easy message,” whereas @ANI amplified the embassy’s assertion.
Nevertheless, the episode additionally highlights the delicate India-Pakistan dynamic. Pakistan’s navy spokesperson claimed it shot down 5 Indian jets through the Might 7 strikes, a declare India has not addressed, and either side proceed to commerce accusations of disinformation. The protest in Portugal, coupled with earlier demonstrations in London—the place a Pakistani official made a throat-slitting gesture at Indian protesters—suggests Pakistan is in search of to counter India’s narrative overseas.
Critics warn that such public sparring dangers escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, particularly as Pakistan faces home stress to answer India’s strikes. Overseas affairs specialists praised India’s Lisbon response as a “intelligent” diplomatic transfer, however some, like these cited in Republic World, warning that continued provocations might spiral into broader battle if not managed fastidiously.
As India maintains that “Operation Sindoor is just not but over,” the Lisbon protest serves as a microcosm of the continuing rivalry, with each nations leveraging diplomacy, propaganda, and navy posturing to say dominance. For now, India’s resolute message in Portugal has resonated, reinforcing its dedication to combating terrorism and deterring Pakistan’s provocations on the worldwide stage.
Sources: India At the moment, NDTV, The Statesman, Republic World, The Hindu, Enterprise At the moment, Occasions of India, Al Jazeera
