In a decisive shift in national security posture, top government sources confirmed on Saturday that India will now treat any future act of terrorism as an “act of war”, responding with appropriate military force.
This announcement comes against the backdrop of a sharp escalation in hostilities between India and Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level security meeting at his New Delhi residence earlier in the day, which was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and the chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces.
The meeting followed a series of retaliatory airstrikes by India on four Pakistani airbases in response to a large-scale attack by Pakistan on 26 Indian military locations. Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi confirmed that precision strikes were executed on key military installations in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian. Additionally, radar stations at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases were targeted using air-launched weapons deployed from Indian fighter jets.
At a press briefing earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh addressed the media, providing updates on the conflict and highlighting Pakistan’s provocative actions. Misri described Pakistan’s aggression as “escalatory” and “provocative,” stressing that India’s response had been both “measured” and “responsible.” Visual and documentary evidence of Pakistan’s hostilities was also presented, exposing what India called a deliberate campaign of misinformation by Islamabad.
Despite sustaining damage to several of its own bases — including Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj, and Bathinda — and injuries to military personnel, Indian forces reportedly responded with high effectiveness. Of particular concern was Pakistan’s reported use of high-speed missiles targeting Punjab’s airbase and civilian areas like hospitals and schools in Srinagar, Awantipora, and Udhampur — actions India strongly condemned.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh categorically dismissed Pakistan’s claims that it had destroyed critical Indian military assets, including the S-400 air defense system in Adampur and BrahMos systems in Nagrota. She asserted that these were fabrications aimed at sowing public fear and diminishing confidence in India’s defense infrastructure.
Cross-border shelling and heavy firing continued along several sectors of the India-Pakistan border on Saturday, as the situation remains tense.
