India Issues Stern Warning: Future Terror Attacks by Pakistan Will Be Treated as Acts of War
- MGMMTeam
- May 11
- 3 min read
India has declared that any future act of terrorism will be treated as an Act of War against the nation, and will be met with an appropriate response, top government sources informed ANI on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a meeting at his residence in New Delhi with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and the heads of the Indian Armed Forces.
Latest on the India-Pakistan Conflict
The meeting occurred after India launched strikes on four airbases in Pakistan early on Saturday, in retaliation for Pakistan's attack on 26 Indian locations, which the government confirmed during a media briefing that same morning.
Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated during the briefing that precise strikes targeted Pakistani military sites in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian, along with radar stations at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases. These strikes were carried out using air-launched weapons from Indian fighter jets.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that Pakistan's actions against India are being perceived as "escalatory" and "provocative." “Pakistan's actions constituted provocation, escalation. In response, India defended and reacted in a responsible and measured fashion," he said.
Despite the severity of the attacks, Indian forces effectively engaged and retaliated, although airbases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj, and Bathinda suffered damage, and several personnel were injured. Pakistan's use of high-speed missiles at 1:40 am to target the airbase station in Punjab and the reckless targeting of hospitals and schools at airbases in Srinagar, Awantipora, and Udhampur were strongly condemned, as reported during the briefing.
Additionally, reports of heavy shelling and cross-border firing emerged from several areas along the Pakistan border on Saturday.
What is considered an "act of war" according to international law?
In international law, an “act of war” generally refers to an action taken by one state against another that involves the use of armed force or aggression, often marking the commencement of open hostilities. While the United Nations Charter does not provide a specific definition of the term, it establishes clear guidelines regarding the use of force.
Article 2(4) of the UN Charter prohibits member states from using force against another state’s territorial integrity or political independence. However, Article 51 allows for the use of force in self-defense if an armed attack occurs or if the action is authorized by the UN Security Council.
As a result, when a country declares that another has committed an "act of war," it indicates that the country may respond with military action or self-defense, as outlined by international law.
India Intercepts Pakistani Drones on Friday Night
On Friday, Pakistan launched drone strikes, potentially armed, targeting several locations for the second consecutive night. Intense shelling was also reported across multiple points of the Line of Control (LoC), particularly in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector. Gunfire and explosions were heard in Samba as India's air defense system successfully intercepted the drones.
The day prior, Pakistan had initiated a series of synchronized drone and missile assaults along India's western border, hitting several regions on Thursday. According to defense officials, these attacks were thwarted by India's air defense systems, including the advanced S-400 missile defense, averting any significant damage.
The heightened tensions followed India's precision strikes on May 7, under Operation Sindoor, targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This retaliation was in response to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists.
(Sources: Mint, NDTV, Business Today)
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