Terror Will Be Treated As War: PM Modi's Clear Warning to Pakistan

News18

10-05-2025

Last Updated:
India signals a decisive shift—future terror attacks will invite war, not talks. Pakistan must dismantle its terror networks or face the full force of retaliation
India and Pakistan have reached a ceasefire, with some mediation from the US. But New Delhi, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has now drawn a clear red line for Pakistan. The message is straightforward: if any terrorist attack takes place in the future, it will be considered an act of war against India—and a strong, swift response will follow.
This is a bold and unambiguous message to Pakistan. India is essentially telling its neighbour: don't assume that after the conclusion of Operation Sindoor, even if all objectives are met and you momentarily promise peace, that mischief in the future will be tolerated.
The Modi government has made it clear—it will not hesitate to strike back. If Pakistan, through its jihadi proxies, carries out another attack, it will be punished without delay. No Indian government has previously issued such a firm warning. In the past, whenever terror struck, Pakistan exploited the opportunity to internationalise the Kashmir issue and drag India to the negotiating table.
But that playbook doesn't work anymore. Modi's leadership has fundamentally shifted India's posture. The change became evident after the Uri attack, where suicide bombers trained in Pakistan attacked an Indian army base. India responded within weeks with a surgical strike, crossing the Line of Control, destroying terrorist camps in PoK, and neutralising several militants.
Then came Pulwama, where CRPF soldiers were targeted in a suicide bombing—once again orchestrated from across the border. Instead of backing down, India retaliated with an airstrike in Balakot.
The Balakot strike was symbolic in more ways than one. It wasn't just a response to Pulwama, but also a strike at the very mindset that fuels jihad. Balakot is historically significant. On May 6, 1831, Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army defeated Syed Ahmad Barelvi, who had launched a jihad to turn India into Darul-Islam. Barelvi was beheaded, his body mutilated to prevent even a symbolic burial. At that time, the ideology of Ghazwa-e-Hind—a violent, expansionist mission—was crushed.
Yet, history is often forgotten. Instead of learning from Barelvi's fate, Pakistan continues to follow the same path, nurturing terrorism under the same banner. Modi's government seems determined to repeat Ranjit Singh's legacy: to uproot this mindset and bury it for good.
That is what the Balakot airstrike of 2019 signified. It was carried out at the very place where terrorists, inspired by Barelvi's ideology, dreamed of Ghazwa-e-Hind.
The problem is that when intellect is low and a begging bowl is in hand, a country neither reforms itself nor controls its henchmen. As the saying goes, the tail of a dog never straightens. By orchestrating the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, Pakistan once again revealed its true colours.
The Modi government wasted no time in responding. Those responsible for the massacre of Hindus in Pahalgam—identified and targeted—were swiftly dealt with. The bases that sheltered them were destroyed. And the arrogance of Pakistan, once again, was shattered. Gone are the days when Islamabad would hide behind nuclear threats. Modi's India is not intimidated by such posturing.
Today, India has conducted surgical strikes, airstrikes, and Operation Sindoor to deliver a simple message: threats will not work. Do anything more despicable, and you will be reduced to dust. Your nuclear arsenal will be rendered useless.
So effective has India's stance been that even after facing bombardment on multiple fronts, Pakistan hasn't dared to utter a word about using nuclear weapons. Instead, it's now pleading for the war to stop—something unimaginable during previous governments.
Even Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir has gone silent. Perhaps he now realises that India's mood has changed. Modi's India doesn't blink.
India has no desire to prolong conflict. It wants to become the world's third-largest economy, not a country begging for aid. It refuses to get dragged into the mud with failed neighbours. This is the reason why India agreed to a ceasefire with the mediation of US.
However, India is also making it clear: a pause in war is not a sign of weakness. Any future act of terrorism will be treated as war and responded to accordingly.
This message is also for the international community. If you want peace in the region, convince Pakistan to end its mischief. Let it dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, drive out its jihadi mercenaries, and abandon its outdated ideology.
Yes, this will be difficult for Pakistan—but it has no choice. India has left it with very few options.
And this message is not just for Pakistan. It also applies to Bangladesh, a country that India helped create in 1971 by liberating it from Pakistani rule. Now, with the rise of jihadi ideology there as well, it seems Bangladesh has forgotten history. If it allows its territory to be used against India, it will face consequences too.
The sooner Pakistan, Bangladesh, and their allies understand this new India, the better.
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 10, 2025, 19:08 IST
News opinion Opinion | Terror Will Be Treated As War: PM Modi's Clear Warning to Pakistan