India’s Dual Approach to Pakistan: Peace Through Strength, Not Submission

In a defining moment in India’s contemporary security discourse, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted in Parliament that while India has historically desired a stable and prosperous Pakistan, this goodwill has repeatedly been misconstrued as weakness by Islamabad. Speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, Singh clarified that New Delhi now speaks a language that “the vicious understand”—a decisive and assertive military posture when provoked.

From Vajpayee’s Bus to Modi’s Balakot: A Strategic Pivot

Singh evoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s symbolic 1999 bus journey to Lahore and his inscription at the Minar-e-Pakistan, which read: “India aspires for lasting peace and friendship with Pakistan.” According to Singh, such initiatives, driven by civilisational values of non-violence, aimed at creating mutual understanding. However, Pakistan’s consistent pursuit of cross-border terrorism eroded these diplomatic gains.

This historical trajectory of unreciprocated peace efforts, Singh said, led to a shift under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Highlighting the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot airstrike, and now Operation Sindoor (May 2025), Singh said the Indian government has adopted a “different path to establish peace”—one where deterrence is delivered with precision and purpose.

Operation Sindoor: Tactical Clarity, Strategic Messaging

The Defence Minister’s remarks came amid an ongoing 16-hour debate on the military campaign Operation Sindoor, launched in early May 2025 following escalatory actions by Pakistan, including drone incursions and missile launches targeting Indian military assets.

Singh detailed that India responded with calibrated force, hitting nine terror infrastructure sites inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). More than 100 terrorists, handlers, and trainers were neutralised in a 22-minute precision strike operation, with no Indian military assets compromised.

“Our defence systems—anti-drone units, radar, and electronic warfare—completely foiled Pakistan’s attacks. They could not damage a single significant asset,” Singh said, underscoring the sophistication of India’s integrated defence architecture.

The key Pakistani installations targeted during Operation Sindoor included Chaklala, Sargodha, Jacobabad, Rafiqui, and Rahim Yar Khan—sites known for housing forward air and terror-support infrastructure.

Doctrine of ‘Peace Through Strength’

The government’s current doctrine appears to be shaped by the twin pillars of strategic autonomy and measured escalation. Singh declared unequivocally that “talks and terror cannot go together”, an articulation that has gained doctrinal significance since the Pulwama attack in 2019.

India’s evolving defence posture, analysts say, marks a transition from a reactive to a preemptive strategy. This is visible in the emphasis on intelligence-driven strikes, layered air defences, and heightened joint operations involving the Army, Air Force, and strategic intelligence assets.

While Singh urged the Opposition to shift focus from rhetoric to results—“Did we destroy terror camps? Did we stop enemy aircraft?”—he reiterated that every operation was conducted with surgical precision and with utmost care to avoid civilian casualties.

Diplomacy Not Discarded, But Redefined

While military might is now central to India’s Pakistan strategy, Singh stopped short of ruling out diplomacy altogether. However, he made it clear that India’s peace overtures will no longer be unconditional or unilateral.

This shift is likely to influence not only bilateral dynamics with Pakistan but also India’s engagements in multilateral forums. It projects India as a responsible yet resolute power, willing to explore peace but equally prepared to impose costs on hostile actors.

Timeline: Key Developments – Operation Sindoor and Beyond