India and Pakistan have decided to halt the use of fire power following days of rising hostilities across the border. The move came after the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan formally requested a halt to cross-border firing. India’s DGMO agreed to the request but clarified that the cessation of hostilities should not be interpreted as a resumption of bilateral talks.
Indian officials reiterated their longstanding position that dialogue cannot coexist with terrorism. The government made it clear that any future terrorist activity will be treated as an act of war, reinforcing India's policy of zero tolerance towards state-sponsored extremism.
India’s Robust Military Response
This development follows one of India's most significant politico-military operations in recent history. Known as Operation Sindoor, the offensive was launched in retaliation to a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 Indian tourists were gunned down in front of their families during a holiday in April 2025.
The operation, which involved coordinated strikes by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, was carried out on 7 May and lasted just 25 minutes. It targeted terror camps deep inside Pakistani territory, including Muridke and Bahawalpur, which are situated nearly 100 kilometres across the border. The operation succeeded in neutralising several top militants from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, both internationally designated terrorist organisations.
According to sources, India’s decision to halt hostilities followed intervention by the United States. Interestingly, the ceasefire announcement was not initially made by either India or Pakistan, but was instead revealed in a tweet by U.S. President Donald Trump. This has led to speculation that India conveyed its conditional agreement to the ceasefire privately to Washington, making clear that its compliance came with stringent terms.
Elimination of High-Profile Terrorists
Among the key figures eliminated during the operation was Mudassar Khadian Khas, alias Abu Jundal, a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba militant. His funeral, held at a government school, was led by Hafiz Abdul Rauf of Jamaat-ud-Dawa and attended by high-ranking Pakistani officials, including a serving Lieutenant General and the Inspector General of Punjab Police.
Another significant casualty was Hafiz Muhammad Jameel, a top Jaish-e-Mohammed leader and brother-in-law of Maulana Masood Azhar, the founder of the group. His death deals a serious blow to the leadership hierarchy of JeM. Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, known by various aliases such as Ustad Ji and Ghosi Sahab, was also neutralised. He had a key role in the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 and was also a relative of Masood Azhar.
Khalid, or Abu Akasha, a Lashkar operative involved in multiple attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and in arms smuggling from Afghanistan, was also killed. His funeral in Faisalabad drew the attendance of senior military officials and civilian bureaucrats. Mohammad Hassan Khan of JeM, son of Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri—JeM’s operations commander in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—was another high-profile terrorist neutralised in the operation.
India Maintains Tough Diplomatic Line
Following the military action, Indian officials refrained from using the term 'ceasefire' in their press briefings. Instead, they reaffirmed the commitment of India’s armed forces to national sovereignty and warned that any future misadventure would be met with a robust response.
It has been emphasised that the current ceasefire applies solely to the cessation of military firing and should not be interpreted as a softening of India's position on terrorism. The government also stated that its earlier decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance remains unchanged. This landmark 1960 treaty, mediated by the World Bank, has long symbolised one of the few enduring channels of cooperation between the two nations. Suspending its implementation signals a dramatic recalibration of India’s diplomatic approach.
A meeting between the DGMOs of both nations is scheduled for 12 May, but will focus strictly on the border situation and will not extend to broader bilateral issues.
A New Counter-Terror Doctrine Emerges
India’s willingness to strike deep into Pakistani territory—something not done since the 1971 war—marks a significant departure from its traditional military restraint. In previous instances, such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2019 Pulwama bombing, India’s responses were comparatively measured. However, Operation Sindoor showcases a bold, proactive defence posture under a new counter-terror doctrine that seeks to neutralise threats at their source.
Analysts believe that Pakistan's swift acceptance of the ceasefire reveals the pressure it faced following India’s devastating strikes. It also underscores the success of India's operation in forcing international attention back on the issue of cross-border terrorism.
Cautious Optimism for Peace
While the ceasefire brings a temporary halt to direct military engagement, scepticism remains regarding its longevity. Historical examples such as the 2003 Line of Control ceasefire have failed to hold in the absence of genuine efforts to dismantle terrorist infrastructure.
India has made it abundantly clear that peace cannot return unless Pakistan ends its support for terrorist groups operating within its territory. The government’s message is firm—any further terrorist acts will be seen not just as crimes, but as declarations of war.
In this high-stakes environment, the future of India-Pakistan relations will depend entirely on whether Pakistan shows credible commitment to changing its behaviour. Until then, India’s strategy of cautious engagement and resolute defence is likely to persist.
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