After nearly three weeks of escalating violence following a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, tensions between India and Pakistan reached a boiling point. Although a ceasefire was finally brokered on Saturday, the atmosphere remains charged, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that any future aggression from across the border will be met with a fierce response.
In a strong message to the Indian armed forces, Modi said, "Wohān se goli chalegi, yahā̄n se gola chalega"—roughly translating to, "If bullets come from that side, shells will go from this side." Indian media outlets described the directive as a turning point, particularly in the wake of a recent attack on an Indian airbase.
The latest surge in hostilities was triggered on April 22 when a terrorist attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, making it the deadliest strike in Kashmir since Pulwama in 2019. India quickly blamed Pakistan for having a hand, direct or indirect, in the incident. In response, New Delhi suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty and took several other diplomatic steps.
Pakistan retaliated by suspending the Shimla Agreement, shutting its airspace to Indian flights, and halting all trade with India. With both sides exchanging threats, the region seemed to inch closer to war over the following days.
Amid the growing crisis, the United States stepped in to mediate. After two days of intense negotiations, Washington was able to get both nations to agree to a ceasefire. US President Donald Trump announced the breakthrough on his social media platform, Truth Social, expressing his ''delight" that both sides had agreed to stop fighting immediately.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that he and Vice President JD Vance had spoken directly with key figures on both sides, including Prime Ministers Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, as well as top military and foreign affairs officials. Both India and Pakistan agreed to initiate further talks at a neutral venue.
Though the ceasefire is in place, Indian officials say their counterterrorism operation—dubbed "Operation Sindoor"—is still underway. They also emphasised that India's future responses to terrorism would set a new precedent.
When it comes to Kashmir, India has drawn a hard line. The central government has reiterated that it will not entertain any third-party mediation. According to Indian officials, the only negotiation they're open to is the return of Pakistani-occupied Kashmir.
At this point, political dialogue with Pakistan is off the table. India says communication will be limited strictly to military channels, specifically between the two countries' Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO).
