Sakshit Raina

On May 10, India and Pakistan agreed to a US-mediated ceasefire following the Pahalgam terror attack in India and consequent military escalation from both sides. India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory measure against cross-border terror groups following the terror attack, indicates the swiftly altered nature of New Delhi’s response: a nuanced, calibrated, and multi-dimensional punitive response to the state-sponsored terrorism.

The Pahalgam massacre highlights the evolution of terrorism into a multi-domain challenge. India's response must similarly evolve -- from tactical retaliation to comprehensive strategic deterrence. To establish a credible and sustained deterrent, India must also carry out continuous kinetic operations, both overt and covert, suggest Sakshit Raina and Rahul Mishra. IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard on the banks of Dal Lake, following the terrorist attack on Pahalgam, in Srinagar, April 25, 2025.