Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted on Saturday that had India launched an “Operation Sindoor”-style military response immediately after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, no adversary would have dared to strike the country again, delivering a strong message on the eve of the 17th anniversary of the carnage that claimed 166 lives.

Speaking at the Gateway of India during the ‘Global Peace Honours: Remembering the Heroes of 26/11 and Victims of Pahalgam Attack’ event organised by the Divyaj Foundation, Fadnavis described the 2008 assault not merely as an attack on iconic hotels but as a direct assault on India’s economic heart and national sovereignty, stressing that a decisive counter-strike at that time would have established an unbreakable deterrent against cross-border terrorism.

Drawing a sharp contrast with the present, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy of granting complete operational freedom to the armed forces, citing the recent Operation Sindoor — conducted in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack — as a demonstration of India’s transformed resolve that sent an unmistakable signal to the world about New Delhi’s willingness to retaliate forcefully against terror infrastructure in Pakistan.

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Fadnavis highlighted ongoing threats, noting that Pakistan, aware it cannot defeat India in conventional warfare, continues to wage proxy attacks, pointing to the Pahalgam massacre and the recent Delhi blast as evidence, while lauding security agencies for thwarting major strikes by seizing 3,000 kg of RDX intended for Mumbai and other cities.

Reiterating Modi’s stance that “terror and talks cannot go together,” the Chief Minister urged citizens to remain vigilant, united, and serve as the nation’s “eyes and ears,” emphasising that internal cohesion is the ultimate shield against persistent terror threats as India’s war on terrorism remains far from over.

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