On the night of May 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered one of the most resolute addresses to the nation, declaring in no uncertain terms: “If Pakistan has to survive, it will have to destroy terror infrastructure. Terror and talks cannot go together. Terror and trade cannot go together. Water and blood cannot flow together.” With these words, the Prime Minister underscored a new national doctrine—every terror attack will be treated as an act of war.
Modi’s speech paid tribute to the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and scientists behind Operation Sindoor, a swift and decisive counter-strike launched on May 6 in retaliation for the brutal April 22 Pahalgam massacre. Twenty-six people, including 25 tourists and a pony operator, were targeted in an attack aimed at fomenting communal unrest. The Prime Minister had then promised retribution that would be “beyond their imagination.” True to his word, Indian jets, within 25 minutes, demolished key assets of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in a joint strike by the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The operation’s name—Sindoor—was chosen by Modi and is laden with cultural significance. Sindoor, the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women, symbolizes sanctity, identity, and continuity. Many of the men killed in Pahalgam were married Hindus; their widows’ sindoor, metaphorically wiped away by terrorism, found resonance in this symbolic naming. This was not just a military maneuver—it was a cultural assertion and emotional response. The image of two women officers, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, leading the post-strike press briefing, added to the narrative of resilience and empowerment.
As Tehelka’s Srinagar-based Special Correspondent Riyaz Wani writes in the cover story, “What the New India-Pakistan Crisis Signals,” the moment innocent tourists became targets, a major confrontation became inevitable. New Delhi’s measured, strategic retaliation—avoiding civilian casualties while crippling much of Pakistan’s air capabilities—was a display of both resolve and restraint.
Prime Minister Modi made it clear that any future dialogue with Pakistan would focus solely on terrorism and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. He emphasized that the ceasefire was initiated at Pakistan’s request, not under global pressure, quietly silencing speculation around third-party mediation. He also reiterated that India would not succumb to nuclear blackmail and would respond to any provocation on its terms.
Indeed, Operation Sindoor reflects a tectonic shift in India’s counter-terrorism policy—action over appeasement, deterrence over diplomacy. The world has now witnessed a new India, one that matches words with action. The future, as the Prime Minister concluded, will depend entirely on Pakistan’s conduct.
Meanwhile, Tehelka‘s second lead story, “Back in Play: The IPL Pass Racket,” by its Special Investigation Team, reveals how black-market sales of IPL complimentary passes have resurfaced, targeting corporate box seekers despite previous police crackdowns. In another headline-grabbing moment, cricketing legend Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, closing a golden chapter in Indian cricket. This came days after another batting great, Rohit Sharma, bid farewell to the longest format. Together, their exits mark the end of an era that redefined India’s standing as a global cricket powerhouse!
