Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India
THE MASSACRE IN Pahalgam was not just an attack on innocent lives, it was an assault on the country’s principles. In response, India decided to rewrite the rulebook on counter-terrorism. Operation Sindoor is the Narendra Modi government’s clearest articulation of a zero-tolerance, no-compromise policy to safeguard national security — the Modi doctrine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the doctrine for dealing with terrorism during his televised address to the nation. The doctrine, shaped by recent events, establishes a decisive framework for India’s response to terrorism and external threats. PM Modi has ensured that every move — from suspending the Indus Waters Treaty to launching military strikes on terror camps — was carefully planned and timed. The government chose strategy over impulse. This prevented Pakistan and terror groups from anticipating India’s response. It ensured that Operation Sindoor was executed with surprise, precision, and full impact.
“Operation Sindoor is now India’s established policy in the fight against terrorism, marking a decisive shift in India’s strategic approach,” PM Modi declared and affirmed that the operation has set a new standard, a new normal, in counter-terrorism measures. As he stated in his address, “Operation Sindoor is not just a name, but a reflection of the feelings of millions of people of the country.” It was India’s message to the world that barbarity will be met with calibrated force. The neighbouring country’s complicity in terrorism will no longer be shielded behind a diplomatic façade or nuclear rhetoric.
The first key pillar of the doctrine is “Decisive Retaliation on India’s Terms”. In other words, any terrorist attack on India will be met with a fitting response. The country will take strict action to uproot terrorism and ensure that perpetrators and their sponsors face the consequences.
The second pillar is “Zero Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail”. It underlines that India will not succumb to nuclear threats or coercion. The doctrine asserts that any attempt to use nuclear blackmail as a shield for terrorism will be met with precise and decisive action.
The third pillar of the doctrine is “No Distinction Between Terrorists and Their Sponsors”. India will hold both terrorists and their enablers accountable. The doctrine makes it clear that those who harbour terrorists, finance them, or support terror will face the same consequences as the perpetrators.
PM Modi also framed the issue in the global context. Nations that support terrorism would ultimately face self-destruction, he warned. PM Modi urged these nations to dismantle their terror infrastructure before it is too late. He said the new doctrine marks a significant shift in India’s approach to national security and lays the ground for a firm and resolute stance against terrorism. The government remains committed to safeguarding its citizens and ensuring that India’s sovereignty remains uncompromised, he added.
This is not the first time India has acted with clarity and courage. From the surgical strikes in 2016 to Balakot in 2019 and now Operation Sindoor, India under PM Modi has framed a clear doctrine. It underlines swift, decisive action against terror on India’s terms. Each step has raised the bar and shown India’s resolve to act precisely when provoked.
This time, the message from India is unambiguous — terror and trade cannot go together. The Attari-Wagah border has been shut, bilateral trade has been suspended, visas have been cancelled, and the Indus Waters Treaty has been put on hold. In PM Modi’s words, “Water and blood cannot flow together.” The economic and diplomatic costs of backing terror are now real and rising.
History will remember India’s response to Pahalgam as measured and principled. It will remember our response to terror. Bharat stood tall, spoke with one voice, and struck with one force. Operation Sindoor is not the end — it is the beginning of a new era of clarity, courage, and our sankalp in tackling terror.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Saafi)
