Indo-Pak tension: Modi grants military 'full operational freedom'
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted the armed forces full autonomy to determine the mode, targets, and timing of a military response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, mostly civilians, reports NDTV on Tuesday night.
The directive was issued during a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.
Modi reaffirmed India’s resolve to deliver a “crushing blow to terrorism,” expressing “complete faith and confidence” in the military, sources said.
The attack, the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama incident, has been linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned Pakistan-based terror group, with its proxy, The Resistance Front, claiming responsibility.
Evidence pointing to Pakistan’s involvement has been shared with diplomats from the US, Russia, China, Japan, and several European nations.
Following the meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met the Prime Minister at his residence. The 2019 Pulwama attack had prompted India to conduct airstrikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed camps in Balakot, Pakistan, supported by the Pakistani Army.
India has already imposed diplomatic measures against Pakistan, revoking visas for Pakistani nationals—except for Pakistani Hindus and those with long-term stay approvals—and medical visas.
By Sunday, April 27, all notified visas expired, leading to nearly 1,000 Pakistani nationals exiting India via border crossings like Attari-Wagah, following Shah’s directive to chief ministers to enforce the order.
Further escalating tensions, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a 1960 agreement allocating 85% of its water supply to Pakistan. Pakistan denounced the suspension as “an act of war,” retaliating by revoking visas for Indian nationals, expelling hundreds, and suspending bilateral agreements like the Simla Agreement.
A senior Pakistani defence official has since warned of potential war with India.