New Delhi | In his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sternly warned Pakistan that India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail and sent a clear message to the world: terror and trade, terror and talks cannot go together.
"Operation Sindoor is India’s new policy against terrorism. It is the new normal. We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan and the future will depend on their behaviour," Modi said in a 22-minute address.
He also had an advice to Pakistan’s rulers: "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."
India will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and terrorists, Modi said, warning of decisive action in case of any misadventure.
"This is not an era of war, but this is not the era of terror either," Modi said, as he paid glowing tributes to the armed forces for successfully forcing Pakistan to plead for peace after eight of their airbases were heavily damaged.
"Any talks with Pakistan can happen only on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," the prime minister said.
Modi's assertions about not doing trade with Pakistan came minutes after US President Donald Trump said that he told India and Pakistan that his administration will do trade with them only if they end the conflict.
Trump also suggested that the conflict between the two countries could have spiralled into a nuclear war, killing millions of people.
Modi said that while Pakistan pleaded with India to stop the military offensive, New Delhi considered it only after they promised to stop their misadventure.
The prime minister termed the Pahalgam attack as the most "barbaric face of terrorism", saying it was personal pain for him, but the enemy has now realised the consequences of removing "sindoor from the forehead of our women".
Addressing the nation, Modi said Operation Sindoor was not just a name but, through it, the whole world saw India's resolve turn into action and more than 100 dreaded terrorists were slaughtered.
“Pakistan wiped the sindoor off our sisters’ foreheads. We wiped out the universities of terror running in Pakistan,” he said, dedicating the valour of armed forces to mothers, sisters and daughters of this country.
Outlining the ‘new normal’, he said India will give a befitting response to any terror attack on its own terms by targeting the terror havens.
He said, “Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will launch precise attacks on terror sites being nurtured under the protection of nuclear blackmail.”
Thirdly, he added, the country will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the patrons of terrorists.
"Pakistan has to dismantle its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace," the prime minister said.
With terror infrastructure destroyed in a big way and terror sites left in ruins, India considered stopping military actions after Pakistan said it would desist from any terror or military action, he said.
"The Pahalgam attack was the most barbaric face of terrorism, it was a personal pain for me. We gave the armed forces full liberty to raze terrorists to dust," he said.
"When our missiles and drones destroyed terror sites in Pakistan, not only their buildings but their spirit was also demolished. When 'Nation First' is our resolve, steely decisions are taken," he said.
Pakistan slumped into gloom after the Indian attack on terror camps, "but they dared to attack us rather than helping fight terrorism. More than 100 dreaded terrorists were slaughtered in the Indian attack", Modi said.
"The entire world saw how Pakistani drones were downed by our military might. India has struck at the heart of Pakistan, our missiles attacked with precision to damage their air bases," he said.
Modi reiterated that terror and talks, and terror and trade cannot go together. Blood and water, he added in a reference to India putting in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, cannot flow together.
“I will tell world leaders too that this is our stated policy that if dialogue will occur, then it will be on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir,” he said, adding that terror sites targeted by India were also linked to the 9/11 terror attacks in the US and the London tube bombing.
In the broadcast, Modi saluted the armed forces, intelligence agencies and scientists and ended his speech by raising the slogan of “Bharat mata ki jai” three times.
The prime minister lauded the unity shown by the country against the terror attack, which he said was aimed at creating communal divide as well because the terrorists carried out religious profiling of victims. “Our unity is our biggest strength,” he added.
After India eliminated dreaded terrorists roaming freely in Pakistan in one strike, Pakistan sank into despair and attacked India in desperation instead of cooperating in the action against terrorism, he said.
Religious places like gurdwaras and temples, civilians in their homes and military facilities were targeted, he said, adding that Pakistan ended up unmasking itself as the world saw its drones and missiles being brought down like “straws” by India’s air defence system.
He said Operation Sindoor has unveiled a new dimension of India’s capabilities as the armed forces not only put up a "glorious performance in deserts and mountains but also proved their superiority in the new age warfare".
PM Modi said destruction was inflicted on Pakistan beyond its imagination in three days and began pleading across the world for an escape route.
Asserting that India will continue to take decisive steps to protect itself and its citizens, he said indigenous weapons have proved their superiority in the conflict and added that their time has come.
Lord Buddha, whose birth anniversary fell on Monday, showed the path to peace but "it passes through shakti" (power), he said, adding that it is a must for India to be powerful to be peaceful and prosperous.
Using power is also at times necessary for peace and this is what India has done in the past few days, he said.
New Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that this is not an era of war but not of terrorism either.
PM Modi had said two years back that "this is not an era of war" in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a phrase that had resonated on the global stage.
In his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, the prime minister said on Monday that for India to uphold peace, it must be strong, and when necessary, that strength must be exercised.
"This is not an era of war, but it is not an era of terrorism either. Unity is India's greatest strength in the fight against all forms of terrorism. Zero Tolerance against terrorism is the guarantee of a better and safer world," he said.
Modi asserted that Pakistan's military and government have continuously nurtured terrorism, warning that such actions will eventually lead to Pakistan's own downfall.
He declared that if Pakistan seeks survival, it must dismantle its terror infrastructure—there is no other path to peace.
He reaffirmed India's firm stance, stating that terror and talks cannot coexist, terror and trade cannot run parallel, and blood and water cannot flow together.
"Any discussions with Pakistan will focus solely on terrorism and any negotiations with Pakistan will centre around Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)," he said.
On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, the prime minister reflected on Lord Buddha’s teachings, emphasising that the path to peace must be guided by strength.
"Humanity must progress towards peace and prosperity, ensuring that every Indian can live with dignity and realise the dream of a Viksit Bharat. For India to uphold peace, it must be strong, and when necessary, that strength must be exercised.
"The recent events have demonstrated India's resolve in safeguarding its principles," he said.
Following is the timeline of Operation Sindoor and related developments:
April 22: Pahalgam terror attack that kills 26 civilians
April 23: PM Modi cuts short visit to Saudi Arabia, reaches Delhi;
PM-led Cabinet Committee on Security firms up first wave of punitive
measures against Pakistan; Punitive measures include downgrading
diplomatic ties;
Expulsion of Pakistani military attaches;
Suspension of the over six decades old Indus Water Treaty;
Immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post;
India withdraws its defence, navy and air advisors from High
Commission in Islamabad.
April 24: In Bihar's Madhubani, PM Modi says those responsible for Pahalgam
attack and their conspirators will be punished "beyond their
imagination".
May 7: Indian armed forces carry out Operation Sindoor from 01:05AM to
01:30AM; strikes nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied
Kashmir.
Main camps targeted: Markaz Subhan, Bahawalpur that was headquarters
of JeM. Used for recruitment, training and indoctrinating JeM terrorists.
Markaz Taiba, Muridke, was headquarters of Lashka-e-Taiba led by Hafiz
Syed; terrorists trained here have also been associated with many
terrorist attacks including Mumbai attacks in 2008. Sarjal Camp, Sialkot
-- a major terror camp.
Mehmoona Joya Camp, Sialkot: was a key training facility of Hizbul
Mujahideen. It was used as the control center in revival of terrorism in
Kathua and Jammu region.
Syedna Belal Camp, Muzaffarabad -- a camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad
terrorist organisation; was being used as a staging area.
Gulpur Camp, Kotli: was the base for LeT terrorists operating in Rajouri-
Poonch.
Abbas Camp, Kotli -- was known as the nerve centre for training of
suicide bombers of LeT.
Barnala Camp, Bhimber -- was used for providing training to terrorists in
weapon handling, IED making and jungle survival techniques.
Sawai Nala Camp: was a key LeT training facility.
India achieves the military objective of Operation Sindoor;
Immediately after the strikes, India's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) informed his Pakistani counterpart that the attacks
were directed only at terror groups and the Indian side was ready to talk;
PM Modi directs the armed forces that India's retaliation to any action by
the Pakistani military should be bigger and stronger;
India briefs top countries on Operation Sindoor; says no civilian,
economic or military targets chosen.
May 7 night: Pakistan launches first wave of drones at Indian targets in night;
mostly for surveillance. All attempts foiled. Pakistan military resorts to
small arms firings along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
May 8 night: Pakistan unleashes 300-400 drones across 36 locations from Leh to
Sir Creek attempting to target military infrastructure, civilian areas.
Attempts foiled. Indian military launches counter measures targeting
Pakistani installations;
Pakistan military ramps up firings across Line of Control, international
border.
May 9 night: Pakistan launches a fresh wave of drone attacks targeting 26
locations -- from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat attempting to hit vital
installations, including airports and air bases. Locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala.
May 10 early morning: India launches precision strikes using an array of weapon
systems and missiles on eight key installations ranging from air defence
systems to radar sites and command centres of the Pakistani military;
Pakistan Director General of Military Operations calls Indian
counterpart on hotline at 1535 hours IST. Finalises understanding on
cessation of hostilities;
US President Donald Trump announces India-Pak agreement on what he called "FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE" brokered by the US.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announces India-Pak understanding on
cessation of hostilities at 6 PM;
At 11 pm, Foreign Secretary says Pakistan violating the arrangement on
cessation of hostilitie;
Asks Pakistan to take "appropriate steps" to address these violations and
deal with the situation with "seriousness and responsibility";
May 11: Under Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces not only struck Pakistani
military bases near the border but their might was even felt in Rawalpindi
where the headquarters of the Pakistani army is located, says Rajnath
Singh.
:Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi gives full powers to commanders to
respond to Pak violation of May 10 arrangement
:Indian military says 35-40 Pakistani military personnel killed during
military offensives; says India downed Pakistani fighter jets but avoids
giving number.
May 12: DGMOs of India and Pakistan holds talks at 5 PM; agreed that both sides consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from borders and forward areas.
May 12: PM Modi in address to the nation says Operation Sindoor is the new policy against terror, India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail.
