India Strikes Terror Camps in Pakistan as Modi Highlights Space Ambitions
| 2025-05-07
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the public just hours after India’s largest anti-terror strike in Pakistan.
India conducts its largest anti-terror strike in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam attack, as Prime Minister Modi speaks on space exploration.
India launches Operation Sindoor after deadly Pahalgam attack
India has carried out a large-scale military operation targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), just days after a deadly terror attack in the Indian region of Kashmir killed 26 people. Despite the heightened tensions, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made no reference to the strike while addressing an international space conference, instead focusing on India’s aspirations in space exploration.
Major military operation targets terror sites
The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday, 7 May, striking nine suspected terrorist sites across Pakistan and PoK. The Ministry of Defence described the mission as “focused, measured and non-escalatory,” clarifying that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted.
“The operation has been carefully calibrated in both target selection and execution method,” the Ministry said, emphasising that India acted with restraint while responding to what it described as a “barbaric terror attack” in Pahalgam.
The strike was a direct response to the 22 April attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where gunmen believed to be trained in Pakistan killed 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali tourist. According to Indian authorities, the victims, many of whom were tourists, were shot at close range.
The attack has been described as the worst terrorist incident involving civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan calls action ‘an act of war’
The Pakistani government responded by calling the Indian airstrikes “reckless” and warned that the action could bring the nuclear-armed neighbours “closer to a major conflict”. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the strikes as “an act of war”.
India, however, has framed its response as a targeted anti-terror operation, not a military offensive against the Pakistani state.
Shortly after the operation, the Indian Army posted a message on social media platform X (formerly Twitter): “Justice is Served. Jai Hind.” Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar praised the military for its “precise, ruthless, & unforgiving” execution of the mission, declaring the Pahalgam victims had been avenged.
PM Modi avoids direct reference to strike
In a notable contrast to the military developments, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared via videoconference at the Global Conference on Space Exploration (GLEX) 2025 on the same day, speaking calmly about India’s scientific ambitions.
Without mentioning the airstrikes, Mr Modi said India’s space journey symbolised “reaching higher together”, underscoring his government’s focus on development and international cooperation.
“Our space programme is not about competing with others but contributing to the common good of humanity,” Mr Modi said. He highlighted recent milestones such as the Chandrayaan lunar missions, a planned human spaceflight, and the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station, India’s first national space station.
He also cited international partnerships, including collaborations with the United States space agency NASA, and reiterated India’s commitment to helping other nations, especially in the Global South, with satellite technology for climate and environmental monitoring.
A display of dual focus
Analysts view the Prime Minister’s decision to highlight space exploration on the same day as the military operation as a strategic message. While India is capable of launching precise counter-terrorism operations, it remains focused on long-term developmental goals.
The timing of the space address drew attention to the contrast between India’s scientific progress and Pakistan’s global reputation, which has been marred by repeated allegations of harbouring terrorist groups. India’s Foreign Ministry has frequently criticised Pakistan for being listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international watchdog on money laundering and terrorism financing.
Modi vows justice for terror victims
Days before the strike, on 24 April, Prime Minister Modi publicly vowed to hold the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack accountable. Speaking at a political rally in Bihar, he said, “India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers.”
A high-level security meeting was held on 29 April, following which Mr Modi gave the Indian military full operational freedom to determine the timing, nature, and targets of the retaliatory response.
India’s wider response to Pahalgam attack
Alongside military action, India has implemented a series of diplomatic, economic, and cultural measures to isolate Pakistan. These include:
- A full suspension of trade, including via third-party countries
- Closure of the Attari-Wagah border crossing
- Cancellation of all visas for Pakistani nationals
- Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and Simla Agreement
- Expulsion of Pakistani military advisors from India
- Blocking of Pakistani media and celebrity social media accounts in India
- The Indian government has also intensified counter-terrorism operations within Kashmir, demolishing homes of individuals linked to terrorist groups.
Context: Decades of tension
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence in 1947, and tensions over the Kashmir region remain high. While both countries possess nuclear weapons, India has frequently asserted its right to defend itself from cross-border terrorism.
The Indian government has often contrasted its focus on technological advancement and global cooperation with Pakistan’s internal instability and reliance on international loans. Pakistan’s economy is currently under strain, with high debt levels and dependence on assistance from the International Monetary Fund.
By addressing a global space forum just hours after one of the most significant military operations in recent history, Prime Minister Modi appeared to signal that India is capable of maintaining security without deviating from its developmental priorities.
As the region braces for potential aftershocks from Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has called on the international community to recognise the distinction between counter-terrorism and escalation.
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