Modi calls India reaction over terrorist camps ‘new normal’ in Pakistan relations

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on May 12 that his government will not hesitate to use force to neutralise terrorist camps in Pakistan, calling it a “new normal” in relations with its neighbour.

The operation “has struck a new line in the fight against terror, a new yardstick, a new normal”, he said in a TV address, marking his first public remarks since the Indian strikes on May 7.

The two countries have been

involved in tit-for-tat military strikes

after India carried out the operation against what it described as terrorist camps inside Pakistan. The action was in response to gunmen killing 26 civilians – mainly tourists – in India’s Jammu and Kashmir region in April. India has accused Pakistan of involvement, which Islamabad denies.

“If we talk to Pakistan, it’ll only be on terrorism. If we have a dialogue with Pakistan, it will only be on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” Mr Modi said.

After four days of air strikes that brought India and Pakistan to the brink of a full-blown war, US President Donald Trump on May 10 declared

he had mediated a truce

between the two South Asian rivals.

That announcement left many senior officials in New Delhi seething, as it was seen as upstaging Mr Modi and undermining its longstanding policy of handling the dispute bilaterally.

On May 12, Mr Modi did not mention the US or credit Mr Trump for the ceasefire. Instead he said, Pakistan urged the world to ease tensions after Indian forces struck at its “heart”.

“Therefore, when Pakistan appealed and said that it will not indulge in any sort of terror activities or military audacity further, India considered it,” Mr Modi said.

India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail, he also said, adding that New Delhi will respond to any further terrorist attack on the country. 

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have fought four wars over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which they both rule in part but claim in full.

While armed forces from both the countries have agreed to reduce troop presence along the border in a bid to restore normalcy, Pakistan’s military said it is ready to respond to any further incursions. 

“No one should doubt that whenever Pakistan’s sovereignty is threatened and territorial integrity violated, the retributive response will be comprehensive and decisive,” Pakistan’s military said in a statement just ahead of the Indian premier’s speech.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Mr Trump again said his administration helped secure the ceasefire, adding that he dangled the carrot of trade with both nations.

“I said, come on, we’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys,” he said at the White House, giving a brief recap of the situation. “Let’s stop it. If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade.

“We’re negotiating with India right now. We’re going to be negotiating soon with Pakistan. And we stopped a nuclear conflict.” BLOOMBERG