Following a recent period of heightened tensions and military exchanges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation, stating that India has only "paused" its military action against Pakistan. This announcement comes after a ceasefire agreement was reached between the two countries, halting all firing and military actions on land, air, and sea.
The recent escalation was triggered by a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists. India accused Pakistan of backing the militants responsible for the attack, a charge that Islamabad denied. In response to the attack, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
PM Modi asserted that the strikes targeted the very infrastructure of cross-border terrorism and that over 100 terrorists were killed in the Indian attack. He stated that Pakistan "contacted us in desperation" after being soundly beaten and that India only considered halting its operations after Islamabad promised to stop its "misadventure".
During his address, PM Modi emphasized that this was not an era of war, but it was not an era of terrorism either. He made it clear that the current truce was conditional and that India would be closely monitoring Pakistan's actions. "We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan. The future will depend on their behaviour," he warned. PM Modi further added, "In the coming days we will measure every step of Pakistan on the criterion that what sort of attitude Pakistan will adopt ahead".
PM Modi also addressed the possibility of future talks with Pakistan, stating that any discussions would only focus on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He reiterated India's long-standing position that "terror, trade, and talks cannot go together".
The ceasefire agreement was reportedly encouraged by US President Donald Trump. However, government sources in India have stated that Pakistan realized that India meant business after its strikes on Pakistani military facilities and "sued for peace" by seeking a cessation of hostilities. These sources also downplayed the role of the U.S., saying that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to convey that the Pakistanis got the message after being hammered by Indian missiles.
The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan held talks to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. They deliberated on various aspects of the understanding reached between the two sides on May 10 regarding stopping military actions and firings.
While the guns have fallen silent for now, the challenge lies in ensuring that peace becomes a habit rather than an aberration. Both countries have paid a price in lives, economic costs, and the erosion of mutual trust. The greatest loss has been suffered by ordinary people, who have been deprived of the true promise of independence.
Moving forward, mutual empathy is essential. A peaceful, economically viable Pakistan is a strategic necessity for India, as it reduces the risk of instability and nuclear miscalculation. The focus should be on investing in people-to-people contacts, cultural exchange, and collaborative problem-solving.
