​Fire and ceasefire: on Operation Sindoor and the understanding  

India and Pakistan on Saturday announced an understanding to stop military actions against each other after three days of intense and escalating fighting. It was United States President Donald Trump who first made the announcement of a “ceasefire” between the two countries, and in further statements, American officials have said U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio were in close touch with leaders of both countries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ‘helping” them arrive at this understanding. The current flare-up was caused by the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. Pakistan has used terrorism as an unstated policy. By demonstrating that India can take overt military action against targets in Pakistan in the event of a terrorist attack, the Narendra Modi government has effectively announced a new security doctrine. Pakistan will not be allowed to hide behind deniability and continue to promote terrorism against innocent people. The Indian armed forces performed with stellar courage and professionalism, while civilians in Jammu and Kashmir paid a heavy price in terms of lives, peace and property. The people of Punjab also had to bear the brunt of the conflict. In the midst of the fire, the Modi government underscored a key principle of Indian identity that it is pluralist, multi-religious and democratic, and correctly identified Pakistan’s strategy to create communal discord in the country.

Now that a war has been avoided and the conflict been brought to a halt, the Modi government must take stock and share its learning with the people of India and their representatives. The Opposition Congress has demanded an all-party meeting chaired by Mr. Modi and a special session of Parliament. Several other political parties have supported the demand. The Centre can no longer remain silent on key questions regarding developments during the operations, the deaths and the losses. Truth cannot be allowed to be a casualty in war. Recent days have demonstrated significant new turns in geopolitics that have implications for India. China reportedly supported Pakistan’s operations. U.S. involvement in the conflict between India and Pakistan is nothing new. But the Centre has to clarify the nature of the current involvement, as it raises concerns about the internationalisation of the Kashmir dispute. The recent days also saw competitive jingoism between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, which is not helpful. The BJP, which is in power, is accountable and it cannot escape that by raising historical phantoms. For a country to be able to secure itself and prosper, there must be cool-headed thinking among its leaders, domestic political consensus and social harmony, and a respect for professional views as opposed to jingoistic slogans.