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India and Pakistan reached an understanding for a cease fire that was less about cease and more about fire in the first few hours after it was declared. However, since then it has been implemented fully from both sides. As expected, it has resulted in a constant discussion whether India did the right thing or accepted it too early considering that it was on top of Pakistan in more ways than one. Some have even gone on to say that as always, ‘India has snatched a defeat from a victory that was there for the taking’. Others feel it was the right thing to do, given the high cost of a prolonged war and the likely impact of the same on India’s growth story. Then, there are a few who always go back to the oft repeated charge about the nuclear capability of Pakistan and its slack or lack of control over its operating button and how it makes sense not to pursue the conflict. This is an endless debate where no consensus will ever be reached.
As far as Pakistan is concerned, it really does not matter. It is a nation that is bankrupt, living on doles and now even its false bravado of taking on India militarily has also been called out in no uncertain terms by India. It has admitted, in international forums, how it has nurtured terrorists and terror groups for decades apart from doing such dirty work for other nations. Unfortunately, this understanding has come too late for Pakistan since its survival depends on the largesse of these very nations who exploit it for their own nefarious ends. In the end, Pakistan has become a use, abuse, forget and reuse entity for some of the more powerful nations of the world.
In contrast, India and its leadership were very clear on what kind of response they wished to unleash on Pakistan. The targets were well chosen and to the credit of Indian armed forces, they rained fury with pin point success on such targets across the length and breadth of Pakistan with near impunity. The aim was to inflict damages, that would not only set back the terror infrastructure and leadership for many years to come, but also to cripple the capabilities of their armed forces and nuclear infrastructure to strike Indian targets. In the end, all this was achieved with very little collateral damage and enough proof on display to ensure that all India baiters and anti-national elements had no choice but to keep their mouths shut.
The announcement of the cease fire did leave a sour taste in the mouth since it was the President of USA who stunned one and all by announcing the same. Ideally, it should have been the prerogative of the Indian Prime Minister. But then being dramatic, self-effusive and playing to the gallery are part and parcel of Mr Trump’s persona. The US Vice President did speak to Mr Modi on 09 May, 2025 on the issue. As per reports in the media, he was told in no uncertain terms that India’s response would be ‘more forceful, stronger and devastating.’ Mr Jai Shankar, Indian foreign minister, had already conveyed the same to his counterparts across the world. Any contention that Mr Modi agreed to allow Mr Trump to make the ceasefire announcement, can only be seen as a despicable effort to play down the leadership, achievements and impact of Mr Modi and his entire team in the four-day conflict.
It may be prudent to mention here that while the Director General of Operations of Pakistan (DGMO) did initiate the call to India’s DGMO for a ceasefire, such an initiative can only be a follow up of a political decision arrived earlier at the highest level. The DGMOs are not empowered to take such decisions on their own. Unfortunately, the media failed to report this in its correct perspective.
The Indian political opposition conveyed its support to Mr Modi and his government. However, a feeling persists that ‘it was with the government and yet not there’. The visuals of Mr Gandhi and Mr Khadge, the Congress President, after the CWC meeting on 07 May, conveyed this mixed feeling very effectively. Mr Gandhi appeared listless and sullen while making a short statement of support to the government. Lack of enthusiasm and pride was evident in his demeanour. On the whole, Mr Rahul Gandhi was rather subdued and mostly away from public glare during the duration of the conflict. This, to say the least, was a bit baffling considering that he is the leader of the opposition and normally very vocal. In contrast and to their credit, some other opposition leaders were more forthright and eloquent in this regard.
The moment the news of the ceasefire broke in the media, the opposition was quick to take pot shots at the government. They raised the question as to why it was announced by Mr Trump. The insinuation being that perhaps the Indian PM had succumbed to the pressure brought to bear by the US President. This was obviously a ploy to target Mr Modi openly once again. Mr Gandhi even demanded a special session of parliament on this issue. Perhaps, the opposition wanted to signal that the period of support and bonhomie is passe since the conflict is over. Somehow, this has left a distasteful note and should have been avoided at this critical time.
The opposition is not alone in getting back to its original anti government mode. Section of the media too have been quick to do so. The Indian Express, in an article published under Express Opinion on 12 May, has opined that, ‘The truth is, that so far, the operation did not get us very far. It has not degraded Pakistan’s military infrastructure enough to ensure that Pakistan will not pose a threat in the future.’ It further adds, ‘India can show its superior might but it cannot dominate its adversaries enough to achieve its objectives.’ This opinion stems from the author’s belief that Pakistan continues to remain a threat. All one can say is that if the author feels that India would decimate and pulverise Pakistan to an extent that it ceases to be a threat for all times to come, then his understanding of the India-Pakistan equation is very perfunctory.
Pakistan is and will always be a threat for India despite India’s military superiority. Terror will always raise its ugly head. These are axiomatic truths. The best India can hope for is to aim for a longer period of comparative peace by incapacitating the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and in the process also destroying some of their important defence installations. The latter includes storage and delivery of its nuclear weapons. In the context of the current conflict, this is what India aimed for by targeting nine terrorist bases and eleven airfields. The reality is that it was this serious threat to its nuclear command Centre and delivery infrastructure near Rawalpindi that forced Pakistan to urgently request USA to intervene for an early cessation of hostilities. Logically, any nuclear escalation would always become a concern of other nations too because its fallout will not be limited to just India and Pakistan.
Strange, as it may sound, the Indian Express states that, ‘India’s biggest strength in this crisis was a demonstration that Pakistan cannot exploit communal divisions within India. But our politically dominant ecosystem is doing its best still to assault India’s greatest strength’. This claim is absurd as neither Pakistan made any efforts to exploit any communal divisions nor is our politically dominant ecosystem assaulting this strength in any manner. The truth is that this dominant system has done more for the minority community than many governments of the past put together. If the minority can dispel the false perceptions built in their minds by their own pretentious leaders and well wishers who exploit them in various ways, then they will not be afraid to appreciate the reality. The truth is that a secular India wants them to be part of its mainstream. Unfortunately, in the absence of modern education and thought within the community, their religious and communal dictates rule the roost. This is the root cause of the communal divide and it has nothing to do with the government.
The exact details of the understanding that has been reached with regards to the ceasefire are not available. India has clearly reiterated that all restrictions imposed, including suspension of IWT, will remain in place. Further, any act of terror against India will henceforth be viewed as an act of war. Op Sindoor remains active as of now and the nation remains on full alert with free hand to the forces. India has also made it clear that no third-party mediation is required. In short, the ceasefire, as of now, is just a pause till India decides otherwise.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.