INDIA has called Pakistan’s nuclear bluff with Operation Sindoor and sent a psychological message to state-sponsored terrorists: nobody is untouchable and no place in Pakistan is safe for you, Government sources said on Sunday. India has also set a “new normal” in response to Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism through the operation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the armed forces that Indian retaliation to any action by the Pakistani military should be “bigger and stronger”, they said. “Wahan se goli chalegi, toh yahan se gola chalega (If they fire bullets, we will respond with cannons),” one of the sources quoted PM Modi as saying following the Pakistani actions. Operation Sindoor is not concluded yet and the cost of cross-border terrorism will be raised as Pakistan can’t continue with terrorism while expecting cooperation in areas of its choosing, the sources said.

 

When asked whether Operation Sindoor managed to fulfil the Prime Minister’s instructions, a senior Government source said, “Markaz ko mitti mei mila diya hai; age ka bhi dekhenge”. He was referring to precision strikes on nine terrorist training sites and headquarters on the early morning of May 7. Asked how many more terror centres remain in Pakistan, another source posed a counter question: How big is Pakistan, implying the country is a hotbed of terrorism. The sources also emphasised that the confrontation never reached the stage of a nuclear conflict which has been the greatest fear and threat used by Pakistan, whose military is vastly smaller than India’s. However, the nuclear deterrence has given it some amount of parity, they said. “We have called their nuclear deterrence bluff. We take the nuclear threat seriously, but it cannot serve as cover for Pakistan to come and do terrorism in our country,” said a senior source. “The new normal is that the Line of Control will not protect you; the international border will not protect you; the nuclear threat will not protect you,” the source said.

 

“The message that has been sent is that no matter where you are in Pakistan, we will hit you. On this occasion, we have gone after the head of the snake and not foot soldiers,” it said. The sources said Indian action demonstrated its new approach to kill terrorists within Pakistan. “It showed our approach of ‘ghar me ghus ke marenge’ (kill them within their home),” said a source. “The actions taken by India are aimed at creating and setting a new normal in the relationship with Pakistan. “Pakistan and the world will have to get used to this new normal because India has had enough,” said a source. The sources said that India will never accept mediation in the Kashmir issue and the only matter to discuss is Pakistan returning the territory which is under its illegal occupation. They made it clear that the Indus Waters Treaty will be in abeyance as long as terrorism sponsored by Pakistan against India continues. “The cost of terrorism has increased.

 

The Indus Waters Treaty is linked to cross-border terrorism and it will be held in abeyance as long as terrorism from Pakistan continues,” the source cited above said. Executed tasks with precision: IAF: FOLLOWING India and Pakistan’s agreement to cessation of hostilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) took its official ‘X’ handle and informed that the tasks assigned to it in Operation Sindoor had been completed with “precision” and “professionalism.” They further informed that the operations are still going on and have not finished. A special briefing regarding the same will be conducted in due course, their official ‘X’ post read. The Indian Air Force also urged everyone to refrain from speculation and disseminate unverified information.