New Delhi, May 10 – In a significant policy shift amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, the Indian government has decided that any future terrorist attack on its soil will be treated as an “act of war” and responded to accordingly, top government sources confirmed on Saturday.
As per agency report, this stern warning comes in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of whom were tourists. The decision signals a clear red line being drawn by the Narendra Modi-led government, stating that any future Pakistan-linked terror activity will provoke a response similar to the recent Operation Sindoor.
“This step formalizes India's commitment to a hardline approach,” said a senior official, noting that any future terror incident will be treated not merely as a security lapse but as a hostile act equivalent to war.
The decision is viewed as a strong message to Pakistan, which India holds responsible for harbouring and aiding terrorist organizations that target Indian civilians and infrastructure. Sources said the move was finalized after a series of high-level meetings chaired by Prime Minister Modi, involving security and defense leadership.
Since taking office in 2014, the Modi government has adopted an increasingly assertive stance on cross-border terrorism. The response to the Pahalgam attack came in the form of Operation Sindoor, during which Indian forces carried out precision missile strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7.
Following this, Pakistan launched multiple retaliatory attempts targeting military installations and civilian areas across northern and western India. The Indian military has stated that it effectively repelled these efforts and will continue to maintain robust defense measures.
This newly declared policy marks a pivotal moment in India's counterterrorism doctrine, suggesting a zero-tolerance threshold for cross-border terrorism moving forward.
