In a high-stakes conversation with US Vice President JD Vance on May 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it unequivocally clear that any provocation from Pakistan would be met with a “devastating” response, according to sources cited by ANI. PM Modi stated that India's reply to any Pakistani aggression would be “more devastating than anything” Islamabad had experienced before. The New York Times reported that Modi emphasised India's firm position on Kashmir, adding that the only unresolved issue is the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to India.

Sources further revealed that following Pakistan's attack on May 10, India launched a fierce counteroffensive. “We responded with hellfire,” the sources said, noting that eight strategic facilities were hit using precision weapons. On the same night, Pakistan reportedly attacked 26 sites across the Line of Control (LoC), prompting India to retaliate with targeted strikes on key enemy bases.

Vance Warned Of Escalation, Modi Held Firm

JD Vance, who was in India with his family on April 22, the day of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, reportedly reached out to PM Modi  with a message from US officials. Their assessment warned of a “high probability” of full-scale war unless immediate steps were taken to de-escalate. While Modi listened carefully, he did not commit to any of the proposals put forward by the US Vice President. This stance follows Vance’s earlier remark that the India-Pakistan conflict is “fundamentally not our business.”

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Ceasefire Announced but Fragile

On Saturday evening, US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire following high-level US-mediated talks. The announcement was echoed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar soon confirmed the cessation of hostilities. Trump praised both nations and credited US diplomacy for brokering the ceasefire amid global concern over the military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Ceasefire Already Under Strain

The fragile peace appeared to unravel quickly. Reports emerged of ceasefire violations by Pakistan just hours after the announcement. Shelling and drone activity were reported in several Indian border villages, forcing authorities to place them on high alert. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri urged Pakistan to act responsibly and “understand the gravity of the situation,” reaffirming India’s commitment to peace but warning against further provocations.

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