As India and Pakistan engage in heightened military activity following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, prominent defence expert Sanjeev Srivastava issued a stark warning on Friday, cautioning that continued escalation from Pakistan could result in a “full-fledged war”—a conflict he believes would be disastrous for Pakistan and might even lead to its disintegration.
“If Pakistan further escalates the situation, it could turn into a full-fledged war. This will prove to be highly fatal to Pakistan and may even lead to its disintegration,” Srivastava said in a statement to media. He emphasized that India is currently exercising restraint, but any further aggression will invite a more comprehensive response.
Srivastava hailed India’s ongoing Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives, as a targeted counter-terror operation. He clarified that the Indian Air Force struck nine terror-linked sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), specifically targeting infrastructure used by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
“India is giving a befitting response to the kind of foolishness Pakistan indulged in. Our air defence systems performed excellently. Several Pakistani cities were hit, and their radar and air defence systems were destroyed,” Srivastava claimed.
Importantly, Srivastava asserted that no military or civilian installations were targeted in the strikes, underscoring India’s adherence to its “zero tolerance” policy on terrorism while avoiding escalation beyond terror infrastructure. He added that the international community had been briefed in advance about India’s intentions.
The situation on the ground continues to remain volatile:
- On Thursday night, a complete blackout was enforced in Jammu, following sirens and explosions near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
- The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major infiltration attempt in Samba district around 11:00 PM on May 8, confirming ongoing attempts to breach Indian borders.
- The Indian Army intercepted two Pakistani drones in Naushera, Jammu and Kashmir, amidst heavy artillery exchanges.
- India’s precision strikes have reportedly neutralised multiple terror launchpads, preventing further attempts to infiltrate and carry out attacks on Indian soil.
While the government and military continue to maintain operational secrecy on further moves under Operation Sindoor, officials assert that India remains vigilant and fully prepared to defend its sovereignty.
As misinformation attempts from Pakistan flood social media, India’s PIB Fact Check unit has been actively debunking fake videos and propaganda narratives, playing a vital role in countering psychological warfare aimed at instilling public panic.
The international community, including Brazil and several Western nations, has called for restraint and de-escalation, but India’s stance remains firm: terrorism will be met with decisive retaliation.