The Daily Populous Tuesday May 13rd, 2025 morning edition
Authored by apnews.com and submitted by Top_Intern_867

NEW DELHI (AP) — India has only “paused” its military action and will “retaliate on its own terms” if there is any future terror attack on the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday in his first public comments since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire over the weekend.

Modi spoke after Indian and Pakistani authorities said there was no firing reported overnight along the heavily militarized region between their countries — the first time in recent days the nations were not shooting at each other.

The escalating hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals after a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir had threatened regional peace. India accused Pakistan of backing the militants who carried out the massacre, a charge Islamabad denied.

“We will be monitoring every step of Pakistan,” Modi said in an address to the nation. He added, in response to international calls for dialogue, that if India talks to Pakistan, it will be only about terrorism and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Both the nations administer parts of Kashmir but claim it in its entirety.

“Terror and talks can’t go together. Nor can terror and trade,” Modi said.

There were celebrations in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Sunday as India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire deal after they fired volleys of missiles across their borders on Saturday. (AP Video: Jahanzaib Aurangzaib)

He did not acknowledge U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate. India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all military actions on land, in the air and at the sea on Saturday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, for his part, said his country agreed to the ceasefire “in the spirit of peace” but will never tolerate violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He spoke during a meeting with the Turkish ambassador, according to a government statement.

Senior military officials from India and Pakistan spoke via a hotline on Monday to assess if the ceasefire was holding and how to ensure implementation.

The Indian army in a statement said the officials discussed the commitment of not “firing a single shot” or initiating aggressive action. The two sides agreed to consider taking immediate measures to reduce the number of troops in border and forward areas, it said.

“The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir, and other areas along the international border,” the Indian army said, adding that no incidents had been reported.

Local government officials in Pakistan-administered Kashmir reported no incidents of cross-border firing along the Line of Control — the de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan — and said civilians displaced by recent skirmishes were returning to their homes.

Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif, said late Sunday that Pakistan remains committed to upholding the ceasefire and will not be the first to violate it.

Soon after the ceasefire announcement, Pakistan reopened all airports and restored flight operations. India on Monday reopened the 32 airports that were shut temporarily across its northern and western regions.

The countries’ militaries had been engaged in one of their most serious confrontations in decades since Wednesday, when India struck targets inside Pakistan it said were affiliated with militants responsible for the massacre of 26 tourists last month in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The tourists, mostly Indian Hindu men, were killed in front of their families.

The incident first led to tit-for-tat diplomatic measures. The countries expelled each other’s diplomats, shut their airspace and land borders and suspended a crucial water treaty.

After Wednesday’s strikes in Pakistan, both sides exchanged heavy fire in Kashmir followed by missile and drone strikes into each other’s territories, mainly targeting military installations and airbases. Dozens of civilians were killed on both sides, the two countries said.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Soldiers carry a coffin containing the remains of a fellow soldier Deepak Chimngakham, who was killed in cross border Pakistani artillery shelling, in Jammu, India, Monday, May 12, 2025.(AP Photo/Channi Anand) Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Soldiers carry a coffin containing the remains of a fellow soldier Deepak Chimngakham, who was killed in cross border Pakistani artillery shelling, in Jammu, India, Monday, May 12, 2025.(AP Photo/Channi Anand) Share Share Facebook

The Indian military on Sunday for the first time claimed its strikes into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Pakistan last week killed more than 100 militants, including prominent leaders.

Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai, the director general of India’s military operations, said India’s armed forces struck nine militant infrastructure and training facilities, including sites of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group that India blames for carrying out major militant strikes in India.

Ghai also said at least 35 to 40 Pakistani soldiers were killed in clashes along the Line of Control. Five Indian soldiers were also killed, he said.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday said his country’s armed forces had killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers along the Line of Control. Pakistani military also claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets and inflected heavy losses on Indian military installations by targeting 26 locations in India.

The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the claims made by India and Pakistan.

Air Chief Marshal AK Bharti, the director general India’s air operations, told a news conference on Monday that despite “minor damage (s) incurred, all our military bases and air defense systems continue to remain fully operational, and ready to undertake any further missions, should the need so arise.”

Bharti reiterated that New Delhi’s fight was “with terrorists, and not with Pakistan military or its civilians.”

Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

barath_s on May 12nd, 2025 at 16:26 UTC »

https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/full-text-of-pm-modis-speech-on-operation-sindoor-read-here/3842001/

The full text of the speech is here. Partial excerpt emphasizing key messages :

> Operation Sindoor now defines India’s new counter-terrorism policy. It has set a new benchmark—a new normal.

First—if India is attacked by terrorism, we will give a resounding response—on our terms, in our way. We will take tough action at the very roots of terrorism, wherever they may be.

Second—India will not tolerate any kind of nuclear blackmail. Even if terror camps hide behind nuclear threats, India will strike with precision and decisiveness.

Third—we will not differentiate between a government that harbors terror and the terrorists themselves. During Operation Sindoor, the world saw Pakistan’s ugly truth once again—how senior Pakistani military officers rushed to bid farewell to slain terrorists. This is strong evidence of state-sponsored terrorism. We will continue to take decisive steps to protect India and our citizens from every threat ...

... our declared policy remains: if talks are to happen with Pakistan, they will only be on terrorism. And if talks happen with Pakistan, they will be about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). ....

Today is Buddha Purnima. Lord Buddha showed us the path of peace. And even the path to peace goes through strength. For humanity to progress toward peace and prosperity, for every Indian to live in peace and fulfill the dream of a developed India, India must be strong—and when needed, must use its strength. And in the past few days, India has done just that.

BROWN-MUNDA_ on May 12nd, 2025 at 15:46 UTC »

SS: PM Modi’s Post-Operation Sindoor Speech Summary (May 12, 2025)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation after Operation Sindoor, declaring a firm, uncompromising stance against terrorism and Pakistan's role in fostering it. He stated that India will not accept nuclear blackmail, emphasizing that the current ceasefire is conditional and retaliatory strikes have only been suspended, not stopped.

Modi hailed Operation Sindoor as a new national doctrine in the fight against terror. He underscored that terror and talks, terror and trade, and blood and water cannot go hand in hand, clearly stating that dialogue with Pakistan would only be considered for ending terrorism and returning PoK.

He said that India's military struck and demolished terrorist camps and weapon stockpiles, killing over 100 terrorists, sending a clear message. Modi accused Pakistan of state-sponsored terrorism, highlighting how their military stood with terrorists during the operation.

Emotionally, he dedicated the operation to the women of India, referencing the "sindoor" as a symbol of national honor, and proclaimed that the enemy has now learned the consequences of violating that sanctity.

PM Modi concluded by praising the unity and courage of Indian citizens, and ended with chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", stating that Operation Sindoor reflects the resolve of a united India driven by 'Nation First'.

TheDarkGods on May 12nd, 2025 at 15:43 UTC »

That is how ceasefires tend to work, yes. No one sane would ever promise 'we will never fight again, regardless of what future circumstances come up'.