India’s declaration that any future terror attacks will be treated as acts of war marks a major shift in its national security doctrine, especially in its posture toward Pakistan. This follows a cycle of escalation triggered by the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, and India's May 7 precision strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
According to top government sources, India’s response is now clearly framed under the international legal principle of self-defence, which is allowed under Article 51 of the UN Charter, even as Article 2(4) prohibits use of force between states. By using the phrase “act of war,” India is effectively issuing a strategic deterrent, warning that it will respond with full-spectrum military force, not merely localized counterterror operations, in case of future attacks.
The retaliatory precision strikes by Indian forces on six Pakistani air bases (Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunia), following Pakistan’s limited attacks on four Indian IAF bases, reflect a controlled but potent response — designed to target military assets while avoiding civilian casualties, thereby staying within the limits of proportionality under the law of armed conflict.
Prime Minister Modi’s high-level security meeting, featuring Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, and military chiefs, underlines the seriousness of the situation. The video release of this meeting appears to be a deliberate signal of resolve to both domestic and international audiences.
Overall, the government's stance seems calibrated to:
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Signal a zero-tolerance approach to cross-border terrorism.
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Justify future military responses as legitimate self-defence.
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Increase international pressure on Pakistan to curb terrorist activities from its soil.
