The fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, brokered after escalating tensions and US-led talks, is currently holding, but the situation remains tense. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued stern warnings to Pakistan, emphasizing that India has only "paused" military action and will retaliate forcefully if another terror attack occurs.

The ceasefire was agreed upon after weeks of clashes involving missile and drone strikes across borders, triggered by a deadly attack in Pahalgam last month, which India blames on Pakistan-based groups. Pakistan denies these charges. Dozens of civilians have been killed on both sides during the recent hostilities.

In his first address to the nation after "Operation Sindoor," Prime Minister Modi asserted that India will not tolerate "nuclear blackmail". He declared that operations against Pakistan have been kept in abeyance and the future depends on Pakistan's behavior. Modi emphasized that "terror and talks cannot go together, talks and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot go together," referencing the Indus Water Treaty. He clarified that any talks with Pakistan would only address terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

PM Modi cautioned that Pakistan's support for terrorism would lead to its downfall, stating that peace cannot be achieved unless the terror infrastructure is dismantled. He advised Pakistan's rulers that the terrorists they have nurtured will ultimately consume Pakistan itself and that it must root out terrorism to survive. India will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and terrorists, Modi warned, promising decisive action against any misadventure.

India launched "Operation Sindoor" in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Modi stated that the world witnessed India's resolve turn into action on May 7 when Indian missiles and drones destroyed terror sites in Pakistan. He claimed that over 100 terrorists were killed in the Indian attack.

Despite the ceasefire, both sides have accused each other of violations. However, the ceasefire appears to be largely holding, bringing a sense of uneasy calm to the border region. Some business owners in Srinagar have expressed hope that the tourism sector will recover.

The international community, including the United Nations, the United States, Turkiye, and others, has welcomed the ceasefire. The US-led talks played a crucial role in brokering the agreement.

While the ceasefire is a positive step, the situation remains fragile. India has made it clear that any violation will be met with a strong response. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire can hold and pave the way for further de-escalation and dialogue.