Ceasefire Violation: Response Will Be Fierce and Punitive, India Warns Pakistan

INDIAN ARMED FORCES' SPECIAL BRIEFING ON OPERATION SINDOOR

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

In a strong message to Pakistan, less than a day after ceasefire violation, India has reaffirmed its commitment to respond with ‘fierce and punitive force’ to any future violations.

The emphatic assertion was made by Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) at a media briefing on Sunday. It came after ‘Operation Sindoor’—a tri-services military operation—was undertaken on May 7, nearly a fortnight after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed.

India’s warning came after multiple violations of the ceasefire understanding reached on Saturday during a hotline talk between both countries’ DGMOs.

The truce was meant to reduce tensions and restore peace along the Line of Control, but within hours, it was breached when Pakistan launched unprovoked cross-border firing and drone intrusions.

Lieutenant General Ghai pointed out that India had registered a protest and made it categorically known that future incursions would attract stern repercussions.

“Both sides had agreed on an immediate ceasefire during the hotline conversation at 3:35 p.m. on May 10. A second discussion was to be held on May 12 to discuss long-term peace mechanisms. But within hours of the agreement, Pakistani troops resumed hostile operations, and India gave ground commanders full operational freedom to act,” the DGMO said.

Giving details, he said Indian armed troops struck nine terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab province, eliminating over 100 terrorists, including top-value targets like Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudassir Ahmed.