The Indian Armed Forces on Sunday made it clear that any further violations of the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan will be met with a “fierce and punitive” response.
In a joint press conference held in New Delhi, senior military leaders including Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai (Army), Air Marshal AK Bharti (Indian Air Force), and Vice Admiral AN Pramod (Navy) addressed the media, saying that the Indian forces are on “high alert” and fully prepared to respond decisively to any cross-border aggression.
Lt Gen Ghai confirmed that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out on May 10 with a proposal to cease hostilities. A follow-up conversation was held on May 12. However, he said that the ceasefire was violated within hours of the agreement. “We conveyed our serious concerns to Pakistan through a hotline message and made it clear that further violations will invite a fierce response,” Lt Gen Ghai stated.
He further clarified that the ceasefire understanding was not limited to just three days but was intended to end hostilities, with the duration and future of the ceasefire to be discussed further. However, after the violation, Lt Gen Ghai said that field commanders had been authorized to respond decisively to any intrusion along the Line of Control (LoC) or International Border.
Lt Gen Ghai also provided details about Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists. He said that “nine major terror camps were targeted during the operation, resulting in the elimination of over 100 terrorists, including high-value operatives like Yusuf Azhar, a key figure involved in both the IC-814 hijacking and the Pulwama attack.”
“We realized the time had come to give a befitting reply to terrorism,” said Lt Gen Ghai. He said that all targets were chosen with care to avoid civilian and military infrastructure, while Pakistan retaliated by attacking civilian and religious sites across the LoC.
Air Marshal AK Bharti spoke about the role of the Indian Air Force in the operation, highlighting “precision strikes on terror hubs” in Muridke and Bahawalpur in Pakistan. He said that these areas were thoroughly scrutinized and that the IAF’s main objective “was to neutralize terrorist infrastructure, not to target Pakistan’s military.”
“Our air defence systems successfully intercepted mass drone raids from May 7 onwards. We destroyed nine high-value terror launchpads, and even struck deep into Pakistan’s mainland, including areas like Bahawalpur and Muridke,” Bharti said. He also confirmed that the Indian Air Force targeted and damaged 11 Pakistani air bases, including Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, and Sialkot, destroying 20% of Pakistan’s air infrastructure.
India’s air defence systems, including the indigenous Akashteer Air Defence Network, were critical in intercepting hundreds of drones and quadcopters launched by Pakistan between May 7-10. Air Marshal Bharti said that no civilian damage occurred during these interceptions.
Vice Admiral AN Pramod provided insights into the Indian Navy’s strategic presence in the Arabian Sea, which led Pakistan to adopt a more defensive maritime posture. “Within 96 hours of the Pahalgam attack, our assets were deployed to establish total maritime awareness,” Pramod said. He highlighted that the Navy’s overwhelming presence played a crucial role in Pakistan initiating the ceasefire proposal.
When questioned about Pakistani fighter jets that attempted to breach the border, Air Marshal Bharti said that India had successfully prevented the aircraft from crossing, with confirmation that several high-tech enemy jets were hit.
India’s military leaders said that they possess a qualitative and quantitative edge over Pakistan and are prepared for any escalation. “The ceasefire understanding of 2021 held until the Pahalgam terror attack. What has happened in the past few days is nothing less than a war-like situation,” said Lt Gen Ghai, adding that India’s fight is against terrorism, not the Pakistani military. He said, “If pushed, we will respond with the full force of our military might.”
Air Marshal Bharti concluded by stating that India’s military strategy reflects a shift in doctrine, now rejecting “the distinction between terrorists and their state sponsors.” He noted that deep-penetration strikes into Pakistan’s territory, including Lahore, Gujranwala, and Rahim Yar Khan, signal that no geography is off-limits when it comes to counterterrorism operations. India’s technological superiority, demonstrated by the use of Rafale jets, SCALP missiles, and HAMMER bombs, was fully on display during these operations.
