Fadnavis Says Pakistan Using ‘Proxy War Tactics’ After Delhi Blast; Warns India Will Respond Decisively

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Pakistan, accusing it of repeatedly attempting to destabilise India through indirect warfare. Speaking at a memorial event for terror victims at Mumbai’s Gateway of India, Fadnavis said that Islamabad had once again tried to assert its presence through the November 10 Delhi blast, which claimed 15 lives.

Fadnavis said Pakistan had long abandoned the idea of confronting India on the battlefield, fully aware that it cannot win a conventional military conflict.
“Pakistan knows it cannot defeat India in a direct war. That is why it resorts to proxy attacks. The Delhi blast is another attempt to signal that it is still active. But India today is far stronger and far more prepared,” he said.

The chief minister said intelligence inputs before the Delhi explosion suggested that terror operatives were attempting to target major Indian cities — including Mumbai — but security agencies successfully pre-empted their plans.
“Our agencies sensed the plot and acted swiftly. When they realised they were exposed, the attackers rushed to demonstrate their presence through the Delhi explosion,” he added.

The November 10 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station was carried out using an explosives-rigged i20 car, driven by Dr. Umar-un-Nabi, whom investigators believe had undergone online indoctrination related to suicide missions. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has so far arrested six individuals as part of its probe.

Fadnavis also paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, calling the tragedy an assault on India’s sovereignty. He said terrorists aimed to send a global message by striking Mumbai, but under the current leadership, the country’s response to terrorism had fundamentally changed.

Citing Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, Fadnavis said India had demonstrated unprecedented resolve.

“Our Prime Minister made it clear: terror and talks cannot go hand in hand. The Army was given full freedom. They entered Pakistan and eliminated every identified target. Pakistan could do nothing. The world saw India’s capability,” he said.

Fadnavis concluded that global perception of India had shifted dramatically in recent years:
“Today, the world recognises India as a transformed, powerful nation that responds firmly to threats. We will not tolerate any attack on our soil.”