On 24 April, addressing a public meeting in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said“India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their supporters. We will take them to the end of the earth ….” It is known for domestic audience to speak in Hindi, it was notable that the Prime Minister switched in English to say these lines. Apparently, the Prime Minister heard the message in a clear manner not only in Pakistan but also in global capitals, it is a clear manner to hear that it would be particularly firm in its resolve to take action against the heinous terrorist attack. Pahalgam on 22 April,
The night of 6-7 May, after a fortnight of the initiative attack, India replied Launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’Striking nine different terrorist goals in Pakistan, which sued institutions like Lashkar-e-Tabiba (Late), Jaish-e-Mohammed (Jem) and Hizbul Mujahideen () in the United Nations. Five of these were occupying Jammu and Kashmir (Pojk) in Pakistan, while four places were in Pakistan’s Heartland, Punjab province. On 7 May, India clarified that its response was “concentrated”, “measured” and “non-esclery” and Pakistani military establishments were not targeted. However, any attack on military goals in India will invite a suitable response.
In later days, in response to Pakistan’s growth, India thwarted drone and missile attacks and gave a fitting reaction to acute artillery shells from Pakistani positions. As Pakistan carried forward the attacks, India responded with accurate attacks on Pakistan’s air defense systems. On 10 May, India targeted 11 Pakistani military bases in the length of the country from Scardu to Bholari in the north and Malir in southern Pakistan. Within a few hours of these attacks, Pakistan intervened with a “ceasefire” petition, which India accused.
A change from traditional reaction
On 12 May, addressing the nation, the Prime Minister determined India’s new principle to fight terrorism. This message also underlined a ‘new general’ in India-Pakistan relations. To understand this ‘new general’, one must remember the traditional Indian response to major terrorist attacks. Trying to prevent dialogue in India’s toolkit, suspend people’s contacts with people, and try to make India sensitive to shed blood with a thousand cuts for India as a means of state policy towards India. Impressive countries paid little attention to India’s troubles and preferred to deal with Pakistan for their own benefits. Responding to Pakistan’s rhetoric on the threat of nuclear growth – a policy Pakistan feels that every terrorist was completed after the attack – the international community would immediately pressurize India to show restraint. India will hesitate in itself and will never conduct a deep investigation to call Pakistan’s nuclear bluff.
A separate change in the Indian approach became clear after the terrorist attack in 2016 at the Army Camp at URI; India launched Cross-Line of Control (LOC) Surgical Strike, which to hit terrorist camps in Pojk. Pakistan should have paid attention to this but unfortunately it did not happen. After the Pulwama attack in February 2019, India retaliated with a strike at the terrorist group Jame training camp in Balkot, Pakistan. This was another message – that India would increase the cost for Pakistan if India targeted India. Pakistan paid attention to it, but not for a long time.
A certain fusion
Two previous examples quoted above are important because they gave insight, what many people can consider, a new strategy. I would like to think that the Prime Minister’s message of a ‘new general’ in India-Pakistan relations has been developing for some time, but now no uncertain terms have been crystallized and encountered in no uncertain terms to understand Pakistan and the international community.
For one, the Prime Minister has made it clear that no terrorist Act in India will be unpublished. Pakistan will have a cost to bear a cost if it remains in using terrorism as a means of state policy against India. This cost will be on India’s terms and conditions – any place in Pakistan will be abandoned holy and untouched. Terrorists will be chased to rescue their safe hideouts and target.
For the second, India’s reaction to the terrorism emanating from Pakistan will not stop the international community by Pakistan’s call, so that India can be pressured. During ‘Operation Sindor’, the goals were carefully chosen and killed with accuracy. Satellite imagery has confirmed that zero collateral was much less than damage. The Prime Minister has called Pakistan’s atomic Bluff. Their careful calibrated functions and clear strategic direction have removed the traditional growth ladder from the nuclear ladder.
Also read Operation Sindoor – A case of suspected detention
Third, India would not allow Pakistan to cover the pretext that the Pakistani state was responsible for the terrorist strike against the “non -state” or “third party” India beyond the control. In the past, it has allowed Pakistan to get away from impureness. Now India will not allow Pakistan to attract this gap between the Pakistani state and terrorist groups working with its soil. As long as the terrorists are nurtured on Pakistani land, India will make the rulers of Pakistan as much as the attacks against India as they support terrorists.
In his address on May 12, the Prime Minister highlighted the fact that senior officials of the Pakistani Armed Forces were present in the uniform at the funeral of the terrorists killed in the Indian strike in Muridke. Footage aired by Pakistani television channels showed the coffins of the dead wrapped in the Pakistani National Flag – an undisputed relationship between the Pakistani state and the terrorists. The fact is that the Pakistani state and its army looked at India’s action against terrorist training camps as an attack on Pakistan, proving that India is advertising – Pakistani state supports terrorists to fight a proxy war against India.
The presence of the Pakistan Army in the funeral of terrorists also confirms the point that valuable tax-payer money and resources from international institutions were borrowed in the times of economic crises, terrorist training leads to the creation of infrastructure. Another element of ‘New Normal’ is that India will not gather and present evidence of terrorist attacks in Pakistan and international communities in India. The burden of evidence will not be with India – until the attacks from the Pakistani land in India are being planned, it will attack the source of terrorism.
Defense strategy
‘New Normal’ also incorporates changes in war-fight strategy. Promoted intelligence, monitoring, and reconnaissance capabilities, accurate weapons, and drones and loitering monists have defined how India retaliated for a terrorist attack from Pakistan. Moving forward, India which appoints strategies to prevent terrorism emanating from Pakistan will have a new-era component-permission to reduce collateral damage. ‘Made in India’ weapons have proved themselves during ‘Operation Sindoor’. There should be a lot of coordination and cooperation between the industry and the armed forces to enable the industry to meet the needs of the forces.
This brings the next point. India’s war against terrorism is its own. We need to depend on ourselves to defeat this crisis; Depending on the global condition, the support from outside will be wax and van. We have to steel ourselves to take this challenge as a nation, united.
The message is clear for those who advocate better trade, dialogues and people’s relations with people to solve problems between India and Pakistan.
India’s cooperation on water sharing and business matters will be subject to ending Pakistan’s terrorism. Sharing river water and terrorism cannot go together, just as business cannot flourish in an environment where terrorism is increasing the threat. Any dialogue will rest on Pakistan for terrorism against India and the return of the supporter in India. Nothing else. It is also a major element of ‘new general’.
“New India” under the Prime Minister is free from self-respect and barriers. The fusion of a ‘new general’ in the strategy indicates a paradigm change of how India treats terrorism, and is a message for both Pakistan and the world. India will not compromise on its unity and security and it will respond to terrorism as it is due to global support or without being fit.
In this difficult time, the Prime Minister’s firm leadership gives another uneven message. India will take its right place in a multi -polar, and sometimes, chaotic world system. What is it to reach there.
Harsh v. Shringla is a former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador of India in the United States, Bangladesh and Thailand
Published – May 21, 2025 12:16 AM IST