Modi's Move From Restraint To Resolve On Pakistan

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The operation targeted nine terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (POJK), using a sophisticated mix of Russian, French, Israeli and indigenous Indian weapons.

A diverse range of platforms-including Rafale jets armed with SCALP missiles, Su-30MKIs carrying BrahMos, Israeli SkyStriker drones and the indigenous SAMAR air defense system-were precisely deployed based on target profiles, demonstrating India's multidimensional attack capability.

All selected targets were coordinated and hit with pinpoint accuracy, demonstrating India's increased military preparedness, technological capability and deep intelligence penetration in Pakistan. The Pakistani-Chinese air defense systems, which included the HQ-9 and LY-80, failed to intercept the strikes, exposing serious vulnerabilities in Pakistan's defensive infrastructure.

The operation was carried out with surgical precision, avoiding civilian casualties while delivering a strong and unmistakable strategic message. In his address to the nation on May 12, 2025, Modi described it as a“doctrinal shift,” declaring unequivocally that“talks and terror cannot go together.” He warned that any future act of terrorism would be considered an“act of war,” putting Pakistan's conduct under strict scrutiny.

Modi made it clear that Operation Sindoor is not the conclusion, but rather the beginning of a“new normal” in India's Pakistan strategy, in which measured, robust and proactive military actions will be the norm. His declaration marked a significant transformation in India's strategic doctrine, signaling a decisive move away from reactive postures toward a sustained policy of deterrence and national assertiveness.

Furthermore, in a bold move to increase non-military pressure on Pakistan, New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty-a historic bilateral agreement-marking a strategic recalibration in its approach.

The treaty, signed in 1960 under the supervision of the World Bank, was aimed at equally distributing the waters of the Indus River system and has long been regarded as a rare example of cooperation between the two nations, even during times of turbulence and conflict.

Modi emphasized this fundamental shift by declaring,“Water and blood cannot flow together,” implying that India will no longer separate terrorism from its broader political and economic consequences. This indicates New Delhi's changing attitude to using non-military tools to exert pressure on Pakistan.

Beyond the nuclear bluff

Perhaps the most significant shift under Modi has been India's resolute dismissal of Pakistan's nuclear blackmail. In the past, Pakistan has used the threat of nuclear retaliation following terror strikes to deter Indian responses, resulting in strategic restraint from New Delhi.

However, Modi's government has refused to be intimidated, stating unequivocally that fear of escalation would not dictate India's security posture. Where earlier attacks resulted in inertia and rhetoric, the Modi era has introduced decisive measures. Operations like Balakot and Sindoor have demonstrated that limited, calibrated military responses are possible even in a nuclearized context, thereby altering the deterrent balance.

By doing so, India has directly challenged Pakistan's portrayal of South Asia as a permanent nuclear flashpoint, with the goal of drawing international attention to Kashmir. Instead, New Delhi has shown that strategic firmness can coexist with regional stability, reducing Pakistan's leverage in global diplomacy.

Further strengthening this posture was a clear emphasis on unity in the face of terror. During Operation Sindoor, the Modi government strategically countered terrorist attempts to sow communal discord by highlighting India's pluralistic ethos.

Two Indian women officers-Colonel Sophia Qureshi, a Muslim officer from the Corps of Signals, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a Hindu-led the official press briefings, symbolizing India's rejection of the communal narratives that terrorists often seek to exploit.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the Pahalgam attack, in which civilians were killed on the basis of their Hindu religious identity, was part of a large design to incite communal unrest in Jammu and Kashmir and across the country, aiming to destabilize India as a whole.

By having these two officers of different faiths brief the media together, Modi's leadership delivered a strong message that such attempts to divide India will fail. The government's coordinated response, both in terms of military action and leadership decisions, highlighted India's firm resolve to combat terrorism while upholding national cohesion.

Too much terrorism

Further, Modi's recent remarks-that“terrorism is not only a serious threat to India but also dangerous for Pakistan itself”-reflect a broader regional concern.