India's New Doctrine Against Terrorism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has established a new doctrine against terrorism for India, building on past operations such as Uri and Balakot. This doctrine is characterized by the following key elements:
- Responses to terrorist threats will be on India's terms.
- No tolerance for terror that uses "nuclear blackmail" as a shield.
- No distinction between terrorists, their leaders, and governments that sponsor terrorism.
Modi emphasized that military actions are "suspended," not ceased, as India monitors Pakistan's behavior, indicating a qualitative shift towards a more aggressive stance with a lower threshold for retaliation.
Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor marks a new phase in India's counter-terrorism efforts:
- The first response framed by Modi after the Pahalgam terror attack involved strikes on nine locations.
- Demonstrates a refusal to tolerate nuclear posturing by Pakistan, which had called and later canceled a nuclear command authority meeting.
- Highlighted evidence of state-sponsored terrorism by Pakistan, with its military officials publicly supporting slain terrorists.
Global Implications
Modi linked Indian counter-terrorism efforts to the global war on terror, drawing parallels with actions taken by the US and NATO post 9/11. Key points include:
- Highlighting India's military capability, including successful air defenses and precision attacks.
- Characterizing Pakistan's actions as a threat to global peace and stability.
Engagement with the International Community
Modi aimed to align international opinion against terrorism, using diplomatic channels and statements to emphasize India's stance:
- Advocating for zero tolerance against terrorism as essential for global peace.
- Rejecting criticism of warmongering by stressing the focus is on terrorism, not war.
Diplomatic Stance on Pakistan
Modi reinforced India's redlines concerning dialogue with Pakistan:
- Dialogue suspended since 2016 due to Pakistan's support for terrorism.
- Stated that any talks with Pakistan will focus exclusively on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
