Any Terror Attack Is an Act of War: India Issues New War Doctrine
By Shyam Bhatia
London. New Delhi has issued a new doctrine, and a stark warning — That Any Future Terrorist Attack On Indian Soil Will Be Treated As An Act Of War.
And that it will be met with full retaliation.
Pakistan’s recent Pahalgam terror attack and four days of war with India has added a new definition to the fragile nature of India-Pakistan relations. New Delhi announced the new doctrine shortly before the two countries announced the ceasefire to the cross border strikes, prompted apparently by the US, Gulf and European countries.
“Any future act of terror in India will be considered an act of war against the country and will be responded to accordingly,” a senior government official declared, signalling a fundamental shift in India’s rules of engagement.
This marks the second major strategic policy initiative by India concerning Pakistan in recent decades.
The first came in 1999, in the wake of the Kargil conflict, when India formally adopted its No First Use (NFU) nuclear doctrine — a commitment that India would not use nuclear weapons unless first attacked with them.
The NFU doctrine was codified in India’s 2003 nuclear posture, aimed at projecting India as a responsible nuclear power. While debated internally, the policy has remained unchanged. The latest warning — equating future terrorist attacks with acts of war — introduces a new and far more proactive conventional military threshold, especially relevant in an era where asymmetric warfare has often blurred lines of accountability.
In retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting nine sites identified as part of the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These included training camps, recruitment centres, and weapons depots linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Key strikes took place in Bahawalpur, Kotli, Sialkot, and Muzaffarabad.
Over the last two days, the Indian Air Force also destroyed much of Pakistan’s intelligence, command and control systems, and military infrastructure in several cities.
In parallel, Indian forces carried out Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) operations, successfully destroying multiple Pakistani anti-aircraft systems, including a radar site near Lahore reportedly hit by drone-launched ordnance. Four Pakistani air bases came under attack, with runway cratering and hangar destruction impeding aerial sortie capability.
Indian Air Force Rafale jets, equipped with SCALP cruise missiles and AASM Hammer bombs, played a central role. These precision munitions allowed deep penetration while minimizing collateral damage. India deployed its home-made Akash anti missile system, as well as its S-400 air defence system to a limited extent to neutralise fighters and drones.
The ceasefire came into effect at 1700h, after the Pakistan DGMO called his Indian Army counterpart at 1535h today, May 10. India accepted his request.
But India announced that there will be no resumption of political talks or confidence-building measures unless Pakistan dismantles its terrorist infrastructure.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reinforced the point: “India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising position on terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so.”
