‘Operation Sindoor has only been paused,’ says PM Modi in message to Pakistan

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched deep strikes on terror bases in Pakistan, killing over 100 militants. PM Modi indicated that future action will depend on Pakistan’s conduct, as Operation Sindoor remains on hold, not over

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his national address on Monday, clarified that Operation Sindoor has not concluded but has only been paused for the time being. India’s next steps, he indicated, will depend entirely on how Pakistan chooses to behave in the coming days. The message was unambiguous: any further provocation or act of terror would invite a firm and escalated response.

Modi’s remarks were aimed at reinforcing that India’s posture against terrorism has entered a new phase, one marked by proactive and punitive action. Citing the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, he described how the entire nation—across communities, regions, and political lines—rose in one voice, demanding a decisive crackdown.

The Indian armed forces, he confirmed, have been given full operational freedom to respond to threats. The recent strikes under Operation Sindoor were described as a turning point, both in scale and intent. Modi framed these strikes not merely as retaliation but as an assertion of India’s resolve—an extension of the national sentiment that viewed the attack on Indian civilians as an attack on the dignity of the country.

He underscored that Operation Sindoor symbolized a collective national oath for justice. The strikes, launched on the night of May 6 and carried into the early hours of May 7, targeted key terrorist hideouts and training facilities deep inside Pakistani territory. The operation, which reportedly killed over 100 militants, was presented as a calculated and strategic blow designed to dismantle terror infrastructure at its roots.

Modi’s remarks suggested that these strikes were meant to send a strong message, not just to the terrorists but also to the Pakistani state that harbours and enables them. He drew a direct line between the violence inflicted by terrorists—particularly targeting women and children—and the scale of India’s retaliation, portraying the military response as both just and necessary.

At the core of his message was a warning: the pause in military operations should not be mistaken for restraint. India is now prepared to act first, act decisively, and act in alignment with national interest—not merely in response to an attack, but to prevent one.