NEW DELHI, 13 May 2025: India’s Prime Minister N. Modi in a national address to the country has said, ” Talks and terror cannot go hand in hand.”, a clear rebuff to the US (President Trump & secretary of state Marco Rubio) claiming India and Pakistan had agreed to talk in a neutral country. Mr Modi also said the actions (Operation Sindoor) taken after the Pahalgam terror killings were not over and were in abeyance and “nuclear blackmail will not be tolerated anymore”.
Mr Modi was addressing the country after the 4 days hostilities with Pakistan, that started with the 22 April terror attack in Jammu-Kashmir killing 26 people, 25 being tourists, in Pahalgam and the subsequent tit-for-tat actions by both countries.
“Operation Sindoor has redefined the fight against terror, setting a new benchmark, a new normal,” he said.
The Indian PM emphasised, ” Any talks with Pakistan will focus on terrorism and Pakistan Occupied (POK)”.
Underscoring that unity is India’s greatest strength in the fight against all forms of terrorism, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that while this era is not one of war, it cannot be one of terrorism either. “Zero Tolerance against terrorism is the guarantee of a better and safer world”, he declared.
PM Modi’s address to the nation came amid criticism of the ceasefire and the trolling of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who led the hostilities media briefings in New Delhi, leading him to remove his X account. While the US maintains it has aborted a possible nuclear confrontation in the subcontinent.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor commenting on the US saying India and Pakistan has agreed to talks, posted on X” ” Mr Trump’s post is disappointing for India in four important ways: First, it implies a false equivalence between the victim and the perpetrator, and seemingly overlooks the US’ own past unwavering stance against Pakistan’s well-documented links to cross-border terrorism. Second, it offers Pakistan a negotiating framework which it certainly has not earned. India will never negotiate with a terrorist gun pointed at its head. Third, it “internationalises” the Kashmir dispute, an obvious objective of the terrorists. India rejects the idea of a dispute and sees the problem as an internal affair of India’s. India has never requested, not is likely to seek, any foreign country’s mediation over its problems with Pakistan. And fourth, it “re-hyphenates” India and Pakistan in the global imagination. For decades now, world leaders had been encouraged not to club their visits to India with visits to Pakistan, and starting with President Clinton in 2000, no US President had done so. This is a major backward step.
At the press conference on 12 May, India claimed Pakistan was first to request a ceasefire and on IAF losses it said “losses are a part of conflict”, that all its pilots had returned home and downed ‘a few Pakistani planes.” India lost 5 soldiers and Pakistan around 40, the briefing disclosed.
Meanwhile, reports indicate the ceasefire is holding and DW News reports: ” India and Pakistan’s military operations chiefs held a phone conversation on Monday (May 12, 2025) evening, CNN-News18 has reported, only two days after the nuclear-armed neighbors agreed to a ceasefire following intense clashes last week.
The two countries had exchanged missile, drone and artillery fire across each other’s airspace over four days of conflict.
Earlier the Indian military said both sides’ director generals of military operations would speak by telephone, but gave no further information.
ANI adds on PM Modi’s address at the AFS Adampur,Punjab on 13 May 2025:
ANI adds on 13 may 2025 – from Adampur, Punjab – Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed soldiers at the Adampur Air Force Station, lauding the courage, discipline, and unwavering commitment of India’s armed forces. In a rousing speech, the Prime Minister emphasized the nation’s gratitude for the sacrifices made by military personnel in safeguarding India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During his visit, PM Modi interacted with air warriors and personnel, appreciating their round-the-clock readiness and professional excellence. He highlighted the pivotal role of the Indian Air Force in maintaining national security and also acknowledged their contributions during humanitarian missions and natural disasters.
Referring to India’s strides in defence modernization, the Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative. He also mentioned recent advancements in air power and surveillance capabilities.
The Prime Minister’s address comes as part of his ongoing outreach to the armed forces, reinforcing national morale and expressing solidarity with the defence community.
India Press Briefing on 12 May, 2025
India Press Briefing on 11 May, 2025
This story is still developing and will be updated as and when necessary.
