In a televised address to the nation on May 12, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India had considered a ceasefire with Pakistan only after dismantling a significant portion of their terror infrastructure. This address followed "Operation Sindoor," India's military action against terrorist bases within Pakistan, which was launched in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
PM Modi emphasized that Pakistan initiated the plea for a ceasefire after suffering substantial losses. He noted that on the afternoon of May 10, Pakistani military officials contacted India's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), seeking de-escalation. By this time, Indian forces had already inflicted heavy damage on terrorist infrastructure and eliminated a significant number of terrorists.
"When our missiles and drones destroyed terror sites in Pakistan, not only their buildings but their spirit was demolished," PM Modi stated. He further added that "More than 100 dreaded terrorists were slaughtered in the Indian attack". He said that these strikes hit key terror infrastructure, including Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur, calling them "global universities of terror".
The Prime Minister underscored that India's decision to consider a ceasefire was contingent upon Pakistan's assurance that it would cease all terrorist activities and military aggression. He made it clear that India has only paused its retaliatory actions and will be closely monitoring Pakistan's behavior. "We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan; the future will depend on their behaviour," he said.
PM Modi also issued a stern warning to Pakistan, emphasizing that talks and terror cannot coexist. He stated that any future dialogue with Pakistan would be limited to discussions on terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He also added, "Terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood (referencing the putting in abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty) cannot go together".
He further cautioned Pakistan that its continued support for terrorism would ultimately lead to its own destruction. He advised Pakistan to dismantle its terror infrastructure to ensure its survival. PM Modi asserted that "The terrorists they have been feeding and nurturing all these years will swallow Pakistan itself. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to root out terrorism".
Highlighting the effectiveness of India's military response, PM Modi stated that "in three days we destroyed Pakistan beyond their imagination". He lauded the armed forces for their precision strikes on terrorist hideouts and training centers during Operation Sindoor. He also emphasized the efficacy of India's air defense system, stating that "The entire world saw how Pakistani drones were downed into dumps by our military might". He added that "Pakistan's missiles and drones got scattered like straws".
PM Modi declared that "Operation Sindoor is now India's new policy against terrorism". He affirmed India's commitment to zero tolerance of terrorism and asserted the country's resolve to respond to terrorist acts in a language that terrorists understand.
