Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 23 (ANI): Calling India a 'responsible power', former National Security Advisor (NSA) MK Narayanan on Friday said that Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's 'tremendous strength' and said that India could have done 'much more'.

'Operation Sindoor has shown that India has tremendous strength, but it can also be restrained. That is an important message. We could have done much more, but the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Indian cabinet decided that we would just tell Pakistan to lay off, don't go forward,' the former NSA told reporters at the sidelines of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) event in Kolkata.

Earlier in the day, Narayanan attended an ICC event, titled 'Global and regional geopolitics, security and economics-in a world of uncertainty'

He further expressed confidence in the Indian armed forces, saying that India could have 'done many more things' than just targeting terror bases.

'We could have done many more things, lots of lives could have been lost, but what we are demonstrating is that we are a responsible and big power, and we are not frightened, and we will hit back,' he said.

The former NSA also spoke about India-Bangladesh relations and called on bigger countries like India to show a 'degree of magnitude'. He also pointed out the internal problems in Bangladesh.

'The ties between India and Bangladesh are much stronger. People may try to take advantage, but I think India has the strength, and we can provide what Bangladesh wants. There are internal problems in Bangladesh, and those can be overcome. I think India can give a helping hand in that. For us, Bangladesh is an important partner. Everyone has problems with neighbours, and it is for the bigger countries like India to show a degree of magnitude,' he said.

India had launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, including a Nepali national. Precision strikes were launched on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases.

Since then, the two countries have reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)