India calls Pak's nuclear bluff; rejects Kashmir mediation

Armed forces say will respond 'fiercely' and 'punitively' in case of violations by Pakistan

- ARCHIS MOHAN & BHASWAR KUMAR

India will never accept mediation on the Kashmir issue or discuss the matter, and the only item to talk about is Pakistan returning the portion of Kashmir that is in its illegal occupation, government sources on Sunday said in an off-the-record briefing.

Sources also said India had called Pakistan's nuclear-deterrence bluff after retaliating against the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

"We take the nuclear threat seriously but it cannot serve as cover for Pakistan to do terrorism in our country," a top government official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the armed forces the artillery must respond to bullets from the other side (Wahan se goli chalegi, toh yahan se gola chalega), sources added.

On the other hand, Director General of Military Operations Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal A K Bharti, and Director General of Naval Operations Vice-Admiral A N Pramod on Sunday said the details of Operation Sindoor held even as there was the tenuous understanding by the militaries of the two countries to stop firing and military action on land and in air and sea — despite violations by the Pakistani side just hours after the agreement came into effect on Saturday.

India said the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots who took part in Operation Sindoor were back home although the IAF did not provide a specific response to any loss of Indian aircraft. The armed forces did not deny losses, but underscored that the aim of the operation had been achieved.