Will acts of terror be viewed as acts of war? PM Modi to Trump

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India views terrorism as an act of war.
- Operation Sindoor targets terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.
- No mediation will be accepted regarding Pakistan.
- Firm political consensus exists within India on these issues.
- Global implications discussed include the Iran-Israel conflict and Russia-Ukraine war.
New Delhi, June 18 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to US President Donald Trump that India will interpret any act of terrorism not as mere proxy actions but as acts of war, as stated by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday.
During a 35-minute phone call, the Prime Minister also expressed to Trump that India neither seeks nor will ever accept any mediation concerning matters with Pakistan.
According to Misri, President Trump fully grasped India's stance and showed support for its efforts against terrorism. PM Modi made it clear that any terror act originating from Pakistan would be viewed as an act of war, and that Operation Sindoor is currently in progress.
This conversation marked the first between the two leaders following the Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent retaliatory action, Operation Sindoor.
The call was prompted by a canceled in-person meeting planned for the G7 Summit after Trump returned to the US prematurely.
Misri noted, 'The phone conversation was initiated at President Trump’s request.' PM Modi took this chance to elaborate on India's measured military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists.
The attack was attributed to The Resistance Front, a group linked to the Pakistan-based terror organization Lashkar-e-Taiba.
'Prime Minister Modi emphasized that on the night of May 6-7, India targeted exclusively terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India's actions were precise, non-escalatory, and measured,' said Misri.
'India made it clear that it would respond to Pakistan's 'goli' with a strong and proportionate military response,' he added.
Operation Sindoor involved India striking nine significant terror infrastructure locations in Pakistan and PoK. In retaliation, Pakistan launched military strikes not only against Indian military targets but also against civilian and religious sites, leading to further escalation.
The Foreign Secretary also revealed that on the night of May 9, US Vice President Vance informed PM Modi that Pakistan might execute a major retaliatory strike.
'Prime Minister Modi conveyed that if this occurred, India would respond with even greater force. India's robust counterattack on the night of May 9-10 inflicted substantial damage on Pakistan's military, leaving several of their airbases inoperable,' Misri stated.
Following India's strong retaliation, Pakistan approached India with a request for a ceasefire.
'Prime Minister Modi stated that the ceasefire was granted solely at Pakistan's request and reiterated that India does not require mediation. He clarified that discussions regarding India-US trade talks or third-party mediation were not part of this episode,' Misri noted.
'The cessation of military action was discussed directly between the two nations through existing military channels,' he explained.
Reaffirming India's long-standing position, Misri asserted, 'Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never accept it. There is total political consensus in India on this matter.'
Trump reportedly inquired if PM Modi could visit the US on his return from Canada, but the Prime Minister stated his unavailability due to prior engagements. Nevertheless, both leaders expressed a desire to meet soon.
The conversation also touched on global matters, including the Iran-Israel conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Both leaders concurred on the necessity of direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv for achieving peace.
'They also discussed the Indo-Pacific region and the essential role of the QUAD. Prime Minister Modi invited President Trump to India for the upcoming QUAD summit, and President Trump accepted the invitation,' Misri concluded.