The Indian Ambassador to Ireland, Akhilesh Mishra, issued a strong rebuttal to an editorial published by The Irish Times on April 28th, which called for international mediation between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. In a formal letter to the editor, Ambassador Mishra criticized the editorial for what he called a “lack of professional objectivity” and for drawing a false equivalence between India and Pakistan.
The Irish Times editorial, titled “The Irish Times view on India and Pakistan: wider conflict must be avoided”, urged restraint from both sides and advocated for intervention by the United Nations and global powers to prevent further escalation. It expressed concern over retaliatory military action by India, following the April 22nd massacre in Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians — including one Nepali tourist — were brutally killed by terrorists.
In his response, Ambassador Mishra emphasized the premeditated and communal nature of the attack, calling it a “barbaric, targeted massacre” in which Hindus were killed after their religion was confirmed. He strongly rejected the editorial’s framing of the incident as a generic act of violence against “tourists,” arguing that such language downplays the severity and ideological motivation behind the killings. “What happened in Pahalgam was not a mere ‘attack’ on ‘tourists’ or a random act of violence. It clearly bore the trademark of an operation executed by the military-establishment of Pakistan,” Mishra wrote.
The Ambassador also noted that the global response to the attack, including a unanimous UN Security Council condemnation and statements from leaders such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was entirely omitted by The Irish Times. The UN resolution emphasized the importance of holding the perpetrators and sponsors of the attack accountable — a key element that Ambassador Mishra accused the editorial board of ignoring.
Refuting suggestions that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “rattling sabres,” Mishra condemned the paper for what he called “providing cover fire for the terrorists.” He called out the attempt to portray India and Pakistan — the latter described as a “global epicentre of terrorism” — as equally culpable actors.
The Ambassador also pushed back against the editorial’s portrayal of Kashmir. He pointed out that, contrary to claims of repression following the 2019 revocation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has since seen significant development, increased foreign investment, and a revival of democratic processes, including a 63.9% voter turnout in the 2024 elections. “India, the mother of democracy, and its elected leadership, has an accountability and obligation to its 1.4 billion citizens to provide them with a terror-free environment for a normal life,” Mishra stated.
He concluded by underscoring the unprecedented national unity in India following the Pahalgam attack, with support cutting across political, religious, and regional lines — including from Kashmiri Muslims and opposition leaders — in backing the government’s resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Our reply to a malicious @IrishTimes editorial on #terrorist attack in #Pahalgam. Instead of condemning terror, sympathising with innocent victims, it provides #CoverFire for the terrorists & their sponsors by charging PM #Modi of "rattling sabres" & equating India with Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/Rti3hU3gnw
— Akhilesh Mishra, Indian Ambassador to Ireland (@AkhileshIFS) May 6, 2025
The Indian government’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the terror strike, involved targeted attacks on nine terror hubs inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. While India emphasized that the operation was “measured and non-escalatory,” Pakistani media and some international voices have continued to frame the situation in terms of mutual aggression.
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