Truce not limited to just 3 days: Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai

NEW DELHI — In a stern warning to Pakistan, the Indian armed forces on Sunday declared that any further violations of the bilateral understanding reached between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations would be met with a “fierce and punitive” response.

Addressing a joint press conference in New Delhi, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai (Army), Air Marshal AK Bharti (Indian Air Force), and Vice Admiral AN Pramod (Navy), according to the news agency KNO said, “The Indian forces remain on ‘high alert’ and are fully prepared to ‘repel and respond decisively to any cross-border intrusion or aggression’.”

Lt Gen Ghai revealed that Pakistan’s DGMO reached out on May 10 proposing to cease hostilities. A follow-up conversation on May 12 was agreed upon — yet the ceasefire was violated within hours. “We conveyed our serious concerns to Pakistan through a hotline message and made it clear that further violations will invite a fierce response,” Lt General Ghai said.

He said that the Chief of Army Staff has reviewed the security situation and authorized all field commanders to respond decisively to any act of intrusion on the Line of Control (LoC) or along the International Border.

Asked whether the ceasefire understanding between the two DGMOs was reached only for three days, Lieutenant General Ghai said, “The understanding reached yesterday was not limited to just three days; it was aimed at ceasing hostilities. The duration and future of the ceasefire were to be discussed further on May 12. However, within just a few hours, there was a violation from the other side. We are closely monitoring the situation tonight and have sent a clear message to Pakistan that any further violations will be met with a fierce response.”

Lt Gen Ghai detailed Operation Sindoor, launched in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead. “After the Pahalgam attack, we realized the time had come to give a befitting reply to terrorism,” he said.

He revealed that nine major “terror camps were identified and targeted in a coordinated military operation”. The strikes, he added, “resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists, including high-value operatives like Yusuf Azhar — one of the key figures involved in the IC-814 hijacking and the Pulwama attack”. “The enemy not only violated the Line of Control (LoC) but also targeted civilian and religious places,” Lt General Ghai said.

Both Army and Air Force officers reiterated that all targets were carefully chosen to avoid civilian and military infrastructure. “We targeted terror infrastructure alone. It was Pakistan that retaliated by attacking civilian areas and religious sites across the LoC,” they said.

Replying to a query that armed forces had identified 21 camps to be hit and will the remaining be targeted in the coming days, Lt General Ghai said, “If the need arises, these camps will also be targeted.”

Air Marshal AK Bharti described the Indian Air Force’s role in the operation, emphasizing that targets included “well-known terror infrastructure” in Muridke and Bahawalpur. “These were thoroughly scrutinized. Our objective was to neutralize terrorists and their camps, not to strike Pakistan’s military,” he clarified.

He presented imagery of the destruction at these sites, including decimated “training facilities” in Bahawalpur and a razed double-storied building in Muridke. “Despite Pakistan launching waves of drones from May 7 onwards — including mass drone raids on April 8 and 9 — our air defence systems successfully intercepted all intrusions,” Bharti said.

He said that India destroyed “nine high-value terror launchpads” across Pakistan and PoJK, targeting hubs of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen. These strikes included deep-penetration attacks into Pakistan’s mainland, including Bahawalpur and Muridke.

Air Marshal Bharti revealed that Indian Air Force strikes targeted and damaged 11 Pakistani air bases, including Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, and Sialkot, destroying 20% of Pakistan’s air infrastructure. Significant casualties were reported at Bholari Air Base.

Air defence systems, including the indigenous Akashteer Air Defence Network, successfully repelled mass drone raids from Pakistan between May 7–10. “We intercepted and neutralized hundreds of drones and quadcopters without civilian damage,” said Air Marshal Bharti.

Vice Admiral AN Pramod highlighted the Indian Navy’s forward deployment in the Arabian Sea, which compelled Pakistan to adopt a defensive maritime posture. “Within 96 hours of the Pahalgam attack, our assets were deployed to establish total maritime awareness. Our response was synchronized and measured,” he said.

The Navy’s overwhelming presence, he said, played a crucial role in pushing Pakistan towards initiating the ceasefire proposal.

While India refrained from sharing its own casualty figures due to the ongoing combat scenario, officials stated that around 35–40 Pakistani soldiers were killed in cross-LoC artillery exchanges. “Intelligence reports estimate over 100 terrorists were eliminated in the combined strikes under Operation Sindoor.”

When asked about the downing of Pakistani fighter jets, Air Marshal Bharti responded, “We prevented their aircrafts from crossing the border, but there is confirmation that high-tech enemy jets were hit.”

Asked if Operation Sindoor is still ongoing, the armed forces said responses to any further violations would be “fierce and calibrated.” They reiterated that India has a qualitative and quantitative edge over Pakistan and is prepared for any eventuality.

“The ceasefire understanding of 2021 held until the Pahalgam terror attack. What has happened in the past few days is nothing less than a war-like situation,” said Lt Gen Ghai, adding, “Our fight is against terror, not the Pakistani military. But if pushed, we will respond with the full force of our military might.”

Air Marshal AK Bharti said that “India demonstrated an evolving doctrine of calibrated deterrence, rejecting the distinction between terrorists and their state sponsors”. “Strikes deep into Pakistan’s territory — including Lahore, Gujranwala, and Rahim Yar Khan — signal a doctrinal shift: No geography is off-limits when it comes to counter terrorism. India’s technological superiority was on full display, with Rafale jets, SCALP missiles, and HAMMER bombs delivering precise results without any reported losses,” he added.