India Warns of Treating Future Terror Attacks as Acts of War Amid Rising Tensions with Pakistan

India has decided to retaliate any future terror attacks as an act of war, top government officials said on Saturday, in a growing standoff with Pakistan. This comes after a series of pinpoint strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, in response to a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 lives.

Recent Conflicts

The Indo-Pak tensions had reached new levels of drama with the Pahalgam attack. In a counter-strike, Indian defense forces targeted with precision terrorist training camps in PoK and Pakistan. Pakistan made counter-attacks on four prime Indian Air Force (IAF) bases at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj, where they sustained marginal damage.

Indian Retaliation

The Indian Military struck six Pakistani airfields: Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunia. These specific attacks struck only military facilities and were launched to avoid maximum collateral damage. The Indian government claimed that the attacks were retaliated against the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

High-Level Meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, and military commanders to review the security situation. A video of the meeting was shared on social media, reflecting the seriousness of the government in dealing with the situation.

International Law Implications

Under international law, an "act of war" is one state's action against another constituting the use of armed force or aggression. The use of force against a state's political sovereignty or territorial integrity is prohibited under the UN Charter except in self-defense or when authorized by the UN Security Council.