Op marks a qualitative change in India-Pak ties

India's Operation Sindoor struck nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam on April 22.

- Manoj Joshi

Along with the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), announced soon after the terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor, launched Wednesday 1.05am suggests a qualitative shift in India-Pakistan relations. The strikes, described by the ministry of defence as "focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature", and the decision to suspend the 1960 IWT that had survived several wars and alarms, is a pointer to that.

Pakistan has, all this while, believed it could, to paraphrase Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's words, allow blood and water to flow together. Now we have arrived at crunch time. The evocative codename of the operation, Sindoor (vermillion) is a poignant reference to the women whose spouses were heartlessly gunned down on the Baisaran meadow on April 22.

The Indian attacks have for the first time struck at targets deep inside Pakistan. In the process, they have not hesitated to strike at the very heads of the snakes being nurtured by the Pakistan army in Muridke where the Lashkar-e-Taiba is headquartered, and Bhawalpur, from where the Jaish-e-Muhammad operates.

As an outcome of Pahalgam, not only have the two countries virtually terminated trade, diplomatic relations, and sporting links, but in keeping with the digital age, they have blocked each other on social media and the internet. On Tuesday, India maintained psychological pressure on Pakistan by pausing water flows, announcing military and civil defence drills. It publicised the several meetings of PM Modi with senior military and security officials.