Greater Noida (Hridaya Mohan): The ink had barely dried on the conditional ceasefire agreement when Pakistan, true to form, violated it. It has happened again—predictably, tragically and with complete contempt for commitments. Within 4 hours, its forces opened fire along the Line of Control (LoC), targeting Indian positions and civilian areas. Drones were fired over Indian territory including Srinagar, Pathankot and Kutch. This was not a rogue action—it was a deliberate provocation, proving once again that Pakistan’s military establishment cannot be trusted.
The breach came not as a surprise but as a reaffirmation of our strategic reality. Despite India’s calibrated approach, despite the goodwill extended under the shadow of Operation Sindoor and despite backchannel efforts, Pakistan chose provocation over peace. The ceasefire was conditional—and those conditions have been broken.
Let there be no confusion now: the resumption of hostilities is not a failure of diplomacy, but of Pakistan’s will to act like a responsible state. The ceasefire was not an olive branch—it was a test. And Pakistan has failed it.
India must now act with clarity. Terrorism, cross-border firing and support to non-state actors are not low-cost options for Islamabad anymore. They are, as declared, acts of war. And wars have consequences.
In the aftermath of this betrayal, the government must consider re-evaluating every component of our bilateral engagement—including the Indus Waters Treaty. A treaty born of civility cannot survive perpetual hostility. The water that sustains Pakistan’s fields originates from Indian soil. If that soil continues to be stained with Indian blood, we must have the courage to rethink the terms of that flow.
Meanwhile, Operation Sindoor remains a reminder of what decisive, doctrine-driven military posture looks like. When Pakistan pushes, India will not just hold the line—it will redraw it. The Army’s readiness and the political leadership’s resolve, is not in question.
But this is no longer just about tactical responses. It is about dismantling the very idea that ceasefires are resets. They are not. They are pauses and Pakistan has shown it only uses pauses to reload.
Let us also be clear-eyed about the stakes. Border villages will once again face disruption, fear will return to schoolyards in Poonch and Rajouri and Indian soldiers will once again stand in harm’s way. That price is being paid because one side mistook India’s restraint for weakness.
The time has come to signal—through diplomatic isolation, economic pressure and military response—that India will no longer play this loop. A new framework is needed—one where actions determine engagement, not hollow declarations.
This is not a call for war—it is a call for honesty. The mask is off. And if Pakistan believes that breaking the ceasefire will not carry consequences, it is gravely mistaken.
Pakistan understands only one language—force. India’s response must be so crushing that Rawalpindi fears the cost of its next misadventure. The era of empty ceasefires is over. Either Pakistan dismantles terror or India will do it for them. India extended a hand in good faith. It will now respond with steel.
About the Author
Mr. Hridaya Mohan (hridayamohan@yahoo.co.in) is a regular Columnist with a renowned Indian daily “The Hitavada”, “Bharat Neeti Media” and some other newspapers / magazines internationally. Superannuated as Executive Director, Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), he is Senior Adviser, Metallon Holdings Pvt. Ltd. presently. He headed SAIL office at Beijing as Chief Representative (China & Mongolia) for six years. He has published and presented seventeen papers globally. Recipient of “Sir M Visvesvaraya Gold Medal”for one of his papers, “Benchmarking of Maintenance Practices in Steel Industry” from The Institution of Engineers (India), he was awarded with “Scroll of Honour” for the excellent contributions to Engineering fraternity from IE(I), Bhilai, “Jawahar Award” for leadership excellence in SAIL and “Supply Chain Leader – 2017” award from IIMM.
