New Delhi [India], May 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level security meeting at his residence on Monday amid escalating cross-border tensions with Pakistan and the ongoing Operation Sindoor.
The meeting was attended by key members of the national security and defence apparatus, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. Also present were Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
According to sources, the Prime Minister gave unequivocal instructions to respond with full force to any Pakistani aggression along the Line of Control (LoC). “Wahan se goli chalegi, toh yahan se gola chalega” (If they fire bullets, we will respond with bombs), he reportedly declared, marking a clear and assertive shift in India’s military posture.
The decision follows a series of attacks, including strikes on Indian air bases, which officials described as a turning point. “If they fire, we will fire, and if they attack, we will attack,” sources quoted the Prime Minister as saying.
IAF Confirms Operational Success, Urges Caution Against Speculation
On Sunday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that it had successfully executed its tasks under Operation Sindoor with “precision and professionalism.” In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the IAF emphasized that the operations, which began on May 7, are still ongoing and cautioned the public and media against spreading unverified information.
“The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully executed its assigned tasks in Operation Sindoor, with precision and professionalism. Operations were conducted in a deliberate and discreet manner, aligned with National Objectives… A detailed briefing will be conducted in due course,” the IAF stated.
Background on Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was launched in retaliation for the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, last month. The operation targeted nine major terror camps operated by groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen in both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The military action resulted in the destruction of strategic sites, including terror hubs in Muridke and Bahawalpur, and the elimination of several top operatives, including Rauf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar.