On April 22, when terrorists killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, despite his busy election schedule, took the time to call Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strongly condemn the attack. According to Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Gopal Baglay, this gesture was significant, as it demonstrated Australia’s clear recognition of the incident as a terrorist attack.
In an interview with ABC News, Baglay criticised the muted global response to attacks in India. “I’m sorry to say this, but in many parts of the world, such attacks receive marginal attention,” he said, adding that some countries even avoid labeling them as terrorism.
This double standard has baffled Indians, he noted, when similar violence elsewhere draws unequivocal condemnation while attacks in India get euphemistically termed as actions by “militants” or mere “gun attacks.”
“If we truly believe in zero tolerance for terrorism, then there should be no free pass for any terrorist, regardless of where the attack happens,” Baglay asserted.
When asked whether Australia, given the presence of two significant nuclear-armed powers, naturally prioritises de-escalation, Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay firmly rejected the premise. “This is a dangerous false equivalence,” he countered, accusing Pakistan of sheltering cross-border terrorism behind its nuclear shield while contrasting this with India’s declared “No First Use” doctrine.
“We are a very, very responsible nuclear power. Even in response to terrorist attacks against us, our actions have been measured and restrained. We will not be the first to escalate,” he said.
The High Commissioner detailed Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation record, warning this threatens global security, including Australia’s allies.
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, a precision counter-terror strike in response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam. It was targeted solely at nine terrorist infrastructure of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba—organisations designated as terrorist groups by the United States, Australia, and several other countries.
Following the May 10 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, questions have emerged about the potential for de-escalation. When asked whether there was “cautious optimism” in New Delhi, Baglay clarified, “Well, it’s not just hope; it’s our policy.”
He pointed to India’s May 7 surgical strikes on terrorist infrastructure as proof of restraint. “We made it very clear this was a non-escalatory move. Non-escalation is what we committed to from the outset. Our priority is development, to work for the growth of the people, in partnership with Australia and other countries around the world.”
When questioned about concrete evidence linking the Jammu and Kashmir terrorist attack to Pakistan-based handlers, Baglay said there are electronic intercepts that link the terrorists to their handlers in Pakistan. “We waited for 14 days for Pakistan to take any action, and it was only after that period, on May 7, that we responded,” while revealing that intelligence had indicated more attacks were being planned against India.
Baglay outlined three evidentiary categories: communication intercepts, rare terrorist interrogations, and forensic proof including Pakistani-marked materials. “Since 2000, over 24,000 people have been killed in India from cross-border terrorism,” he stated, referencing evidence shared internationally, including after the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed Australians.
Striking a lighter note, Baglay welcomed Australian cricketers to the IPL, saying, “We would also like to see the Australian players back over there—and amen to that.” This reflected India’s broader priorities, “Working with partners like Australia…to make India a Viksit Bharat (Developed Nation) by 2047. We don’t want these tensions.”
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🇮🇳 India's @HCICanberra to Australia criticised global double standards on terrorism after J&K attacks. Highlighted India's restrained response & Pakistan's terror links. Praised Australia's solidarity & stressed India's development focus. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/aIkc474AIK
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