'I Want It Immediately': NSA Ajit Doval Reveals PM Modi's 1st Question After Pahalgam Attack

News india 'I Want It Immediately': NSA Ajit Doval Reveals PM Modi's 1st Question After Pahalgam Attack

'I Want It Immediately': NSA Ajit Doval Reveals PM Modi's 1st Question After Pahalgam Attack

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Last Updated: August 15, 2026, 12:51 IST

In an interview, NSA Ajit Doval recalled the events leading to the launch of the military operation against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism

In an interview for the Discovery docuseries, NSA Ajit Doval recalled the events leading to the launch of the military operation against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said that the first thing Prime Minister Narendra Modi enquired about after the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack was who was behind the deadly assault that had killed 26 civilians, while also seeking an “immediate" response.

In an interview for the Discovery docuseries “Declassified: Operation Sindoor", Doval recalled the events leading to the launch of the military operation against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

Doval, a former intelligence officer, revealed that the 88-hour military operation aimed to destroy enemy camps in Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), especially those linked to the Pahalgam terror attack.

‘Operation Sindoor’ was launched by the Indian armed forces in May last year to retaliate against the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that had claimed 26 lives, marking the deadliest assault against civilians in Kashmir in decades.

News18 Also Covered: ‘Declassified: Op Sindoor’: Ajit Doval’s Big Message To Pakistan On Terrorism, Says ‘We’ll Fight Till Last Drop Of Blood’

‘He Wanted To Know The Facts’

In his first interview a little over a year after the ‘Operation Sindoor’, Ajit Doval recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Modi after he returned from Saudi Arabia, having cut his trip short.

“The prime minister returned. The foreign secretary had come to receive him. Then, at the airport itself, we had a meeting. First, he wanted to know all the facts," he said.

NSA Ajit Doval appears in Discovery’s upcoming docuseries Declassified: Operation Sindoor, offering a first-hand look at the decisions, objectives and resolve behind India’s 88-hour response. pic.twitter.com/xRhvmHVzG0— Lovish 🇮🇳 (@lovish_pandey06) August 14, 2026

NSA Doval said the Prime Minister wanted to know who was behind the attack, seeking details about the attack. “And then his first question to me was –– ‘Who has done it? Who is responsible? We should be very clear who the perpetrators are. I want it immediately," he said.

In an apparent message to the world, NSA reiterated that India’s generosity should not be mistaken as the country’s weakness. “The message to the world is very clear – India’s generosity or India being tolerant should not be mistaken for its weakness. India can take risks, India can hit hard, irrespective of the consequences."

Planning Of ‘Operation Sindoor’

Doval also opened up on the planning of ‘Operation Sindoor’, saying India had decided that the mission would only focus on destroying terror camps in Pakistan.

He revealed that India wanted the Pakistan army to understand that its “support to terrorism or inability to take effective action against the terrorists is something which is not tolerable to us".

Following ‘Operation Sindoor’, Pakistan launched offensives against India, prompting New Delhi to hit back. The three-day cross-border exchange –– leading to casualties on both sides –– ended after the two neighbouring nations reached a ceasefire deal.

“Once anything starts, we are willing to go as far as it is necessary for a nation to preserve its sovereignty, and there are no limits on that. We fight till the last drop of blood," said NSA Doval.

Affirming the country’s resolve against terrorism, he added: “When the prime minister says that Operation Sindoor is alive, his intention is that the fight against terror will only be over till the last terrorist is eliminated."

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Key Questions Answered Powered by Ask News18 How has India's anti-terrorism strategy evolved since 2025? Since the Pahalgam attack in April 2025, India's anti-terrorism strategy has shifted to a multi-layered, sustained, and proactive approach, moving away from strategic restraint. Could similar operations be launched in the future? India's new counter-terror doctrine, established after the Pahalgam attack, indicates that any major terror attack will be met with a multi-layered, sustained response, suggesting similar operations could be launched in the future. Powered by Ask News18

About the Author Meemansa Shekhawat Sub-editor A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re... Read More

First Published: August 15, 2026, 12:40 IST

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