Former UN ambassador backs India’s military operation following deadly terror attack
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Republican leader Nikki Haley delivered a strong statement of support for India’s recent military strikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan, declaring that India had “every right” to defend itself following a deadly terrorist attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.
“Terrorists launched an attack that killed dozens of Indian citizens. India had every right to retaliate and defend itself. Pakistan does not get to play the victim. No country gets a pass for supporting terrorist activity,” Haley wrote Thursday in a post on X.
Operation Sindoor: India’s response to Pahalgam attack
The Indian military launched what it has dubbed “Operation Sindoor” in direct retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation targeted nine terrorist camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir using missiles and drone strikes.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri characterized the military action as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible,” designed to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and to “deter and to pre-empt” future terrorist strikes.
During a press conference in New Delhi, Misri explained that the military action was deemed necessary after Pakistan showed “no demonstrable” steps to address terrorist infrastructure on its territory or in areas under its control. The operation was specifically aimed at bringing the perpetrators and planners of the April 22 attack to justice.
Haley’s stance on Pakistan is consistent with past policies
Nikki Haley, who is Indian-American, served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during former President Donald Trump’s first term. She was the first Indian-American appointed to a cabinet-level position in the U.S. administration and also previously served as the governor of South Carolina.
Her support for India’s actions aligns with her previously stated positions on Pakistan. During her brief 2024 presidential campaign, which she ended in March last year, Nikki Haley had asserted that if elected, her administration would not provide financial support to countries like Pakistan.
“A weak America pays the bad guys: Hundreds of millions to Pakistan, Iraq, and Zimbabwe last year alone. A strong America won’t be the world’s ATM,” she stated during her campaign.
In an op-ed published in the New York Post, Nikki Haley had also highlighted her support for President Trump’s decision to cut nearly $2 billion in military aid to Pakistan, citing the country’s support for terrorists who had killed American troops.
As tensions continue to simmer between the nuclear-armed neighbors, Haley’s comments add a significant voice to the international response to India’s military action, potentially influencing how other Western powers frame their reactions to the developing situation.
