'Clear links between Pakistan and attackers' – says India official Mr Misri spoke in some detail about the "barbarity" of last month's attack in Indian-administered Kashmir which he said was carried out by "Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists". He did not share any evidence of this in the briefing. He blamed the attack on The Resistance Front (TRF), describing it as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a group based in Pakistan that India has designated a terrorist organisation.

Soon after the attack, a social media post appeared claiming to be speaking on behalf of the TRF, saying it was behind the killings. But the TRF later denied involvement saying someone with access to its social media account had wrongly claimed a role in the attack. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the Pahalgam attack and asked India to show any evidence it has.

It hasn't responded to India's latest claims yet. Mr Misri said Indian intelligence's monitoring of "Pakistan-based terrorist modules" indicated that further attacks against India were impending. "There was thus compulsion both to deter and to pre-empt [further attacks]."

He also reiterated that India's strikes in Pakistani territory were "measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible".