Operation Sindoor only suspended, India will hit hard if provoked again, N-blackmail won’t work: PM Modi

New Delhi: Two days after the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan was announced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night said that ‘Operation Sindoor’ has only been suspended and if Islamabad resorts to any further provocation, the reaction will be severe and the “Nuclear blackmail” will no longer be tolerated.

In a televised Address to the Nation, which marked his first public comments after the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7, PM Modi said that ‘Operation Sindoor had resulted in the killing of over 100 terrorists and ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan or a rethink on suspension of the Indus Water Treaty until Islamabad ends support to terrorism.

He said India agreed to the ceasefire after causing substantial destruction to the terror infrastructure in Pakistan, which pleaded with the world for safety and “assurance was given to us that it will no more indulge in any terrorist act or military misadventure”.

Declaring that "‘Operation Sindoor is now India’s policy against terrorism”, he said, “We have only suspended our retaliatory actions against Pakistani terrorist and military installations. In the coming days, we will assess Pakistan’s actions.”

Maintaining that the Pahalgam terror attack was an assault on the soul of India as many women were widowed, Modi said after the cross-border surgical strikes of 2016 and Balakot airstrikes of 2019, ‘Operation Sindoor’ is a “new policy” of India against terrorism and all the Armed forces of India continue to be on alert.

“India’s stand has been clear. Terror, trade and talks cannot go together…. Trade and talks cannot go together and also, blood and water cannot flow together,” he asserted.

He added that the only issues on which India can talk with Pakistan are “terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK)”.

Invoking the apostle of peace Gautam Buddha on his anniversary today, Modi said, “Lord Buddha has shown us the path of peace. But the path of peace also passes through power.”

He said, “this certainly is not the era of war, but it is also not the era of terrorism. Zero tolerance against terrorism is the guarantee of a better world.”

Warning Pakistan, he said if it wants to be “spared”, it will have to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and stop supporting it.

The Prime Minister said India no longer differentiates between terrorists and the Pakistani State, considering the way top officials of the Pakistan Army attended the funeral of the terrorists killed in the Indian attacks.

“There cannot be a bigger proof of State-sponsored terrorism… The whole world saw the dirty truth of Pakistan when its high-ranking officers of its army attended the funeral of the slain terrorists."

Talking about ‘Operation Sindoor’ which was to avenge the Pahalgam attack, the Prime Minister said India targeted the camps of terrorists and over 100 of them were killed in the air strike of May 7.

Pakistan “panicked” because of the Indian action but instead of acting against the terrorists, it started attacking India’s schools, colleges and military installations, Modi said.

This evoked a sharp military response from India and within three days, Pakistan’s military infrastructure, along with the terror infrastructure, was destroyed to a large extent, he said.

Watching its increasing destruction and “totally defeated”, Pakistan went around the world seeking help to save itself.

“In such desperation, Pakistan’s military contacted our DGMO on May 10. By then, we had caused substantial destruction to Pakistan’s terror and military infrastructure, which was reduced to debris. So, when Pakistan made an appeal and we were assured that it will no longer indulge in terrorist attacks or military misadventure, we considered their request (for ceasefire),” Modi said.

But he went on to warn, “Any further terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response on our terms… Nuclear blackmail will no longer be tolerated.”

He said if Pakistan wants to be spared, it must dismantle terror infrastructure and stop supporting terrorism.