PM Modi Declares Operation Sindoor India's New Anti-Terror Policy, Rules Out Talks Barring PoK & Terror
In his first address since Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted India will not tolerate 'nuclear blackmail' from Pakistan. He stated the operation, launched after the Pahalgam attack, is now India's policy against terrorism and has only been kept in abeyance, contingent on Pakistan's future behaviour. Modi emphasized that future talks with Pakistan would solely focus on terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), ruling out discussions on other Jammu and Kashmir issues.
Unpacked:
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. Its main objectives were to destroy terror launchpads linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, and to demonstrate that both terrorists and their state sponsors in Pakistan would be treated as legitimate targets.
Operation Sindoor marked a significant doctrinal shift by targeting locations deep within Pakistan's mainland, not just border areas or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India discarded previous distinctions between terrorists and their state sponsors, signaling that any state-sponsored terrorism would invite direct and visible retaliation, creating a new red line for Pakistan.
After India's strikes, Pakistan launched missile attacks on Indian military facilities, prompting further Indian retaliation on Pakistani military targets. Both air forces used long-range missiles without crossing the international border, resulting in damaged facilities and aircraft losses on both sides, escalating the conflict significantly.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that future dialogue with Pakistan would focus only on terrorism and the return of PoK, reflecting India’s hardened stance after recent attacks. This signals a policy shift, aiming both to pressure Pakistan over its control of PoK and to keep terrorism as the central issue in bilateral relations.