In his first address to the nation following a tense military standoff with Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night asserted that India will not entertain any discussion on Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan unless it pertains to dismantling terror infrastructure and returning Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). His address came after the recent ceasefire agreement brought a halt to nearly 100 hours of conflict between the two nations.
PM Modi described Operation SindoorâIndiaâs precision strikes launched on May 7 targeting terror facilities in Pakistan and PoKâas a watershed moment and a shift in Indiaâs counter-terrorism doctrine. “This was not just an operation, but a doctrinal change,” the Prime Minister said in his 22-minute speech, sending a clear warning to Pakistan.
More than 100 terrorists were killed during the strikes, which destroyed major terror bases including the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammedâs stronghold in Bahawalpurâdescribed by Modi as “global universities of terror”. Several top terrorist leaders operating freely in Pakistan for decades were eliminated, he added.
PM Modi slammed Pakistan for retaliating after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack instead of cooperating to curb terrorism. “Instead of helping India fight terror, they attacked us. But Pakistanâs drones and missiles were shattered by our air defence. Their plan to strike at our border failed when India struck their heart,” he said.
He underlined that Operation Sindoor had not ended, but was only on hold, and its continuation would depend on Pakistanâs actions. âWe are keeping a close watch,â he warned.
Indiaâs New Security Doctrine: A Three-Pillar Approach
The Prime Minister laid out a bold new security doctrine comprising three key principles:
Decisive Retaliation: India will respond to terror attacks with powerful counterstrikes at a time and place of its choosing, targeting the core of terror networks.
Zero Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail: India will no longer be deterred by nuclear threats. âAny hub of terror believing it is safe behind a nuclear shield will face our full force,â PM Modi declared.
No Distinction Between Terror Sponsors and Terrorists: Governments that harbor and glorify terrorists will be treated the same as the terrorists themselves. âIn Pakistan, even senior military officials attended the funerals of slain terrorists. This shows their open support,â Modi said.
A Call for Global Accountability
PM Modi stated that the world had witnessed Pakistanâs duplicityâattacking civilian spaces while pleading for peace. He stressed that India’s firm response had exposed Pakistanâs weaknesses and left it desperate to de-escalate. The ceasefire, he said, was initiated by Pakistan after being unable to withstand Indiaâs precise and relentless retaliation.
In closing, Prime Minister Modi reiterated that Indiaâs stance on terror is now irreversible. “Terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together,â he said, marking a decisive shift in Indiaâs strategic posture.