Pakistan pleaded with us to stop attacks, assuring it would cease all terrorist activities against India: PM Modi on Operation Sindoor

PM Modi also made it clear that India has only paused its action against Pak terror establishments

In his first address to the nation since the start of Operation Sindoor,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Pakistan reached out to the Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) after suffering severe losses, and pleaded for a ceasefire after India struck at heart of Pakistan, with missiles that attacked with precision and damaged their air bases.

He noted that while reaching out to India’s DGMO on the afternoon of May 10 pleading for ceasefire, Pak military assured that it would cease all terrorist activities and military aggression against India. PM said, "Pakistan pleaded with us to stop attacks but we considered it only after they promised to stop their misadventure. After being soundly beaten, Pakistan pleaded to us in desperation."

Following India’s aggressive countermeasures, Pakistan began seeking ways to de-escalate, appealing to the global community for relief from rising tensions. However, PM also made it clear that India has only paused its action against Pak terror establishments, and said, "We have just postponed our retaliatory action on Pakistan's terrorist and military bases. In the coming days, we will measure every step of Pakistan on the basis of what attitude it adopts."

Calling the Pahalgam attack "the most barbaric face of terrorism", PM said that it was a personal pain for him in his address to the nation. He said that on 22 April in Pahalgam, the barbarism that terrorists showed shook the country and the world. "Those innocent people who were celebrating the leaves were killed in front of their families, after being asked about their religion," he said.

PM stated that India’s armed forces carried out precise strikes on terrorist hideouts and training centers in Pakistan. "The terrorists could never have imagined even in their dreams that India could take such a bold decision. But when a nation stands united and is driven by the spirit of ‘nation first’, then steel-like decisions are made and powerful results are delivered. When India’s missiles and drones struck the terrorist hubs in Pakistan, it was not just their buildings that were destroyed, but also their stockpiles of weapons," he informed.

In his address, PM said, "We have seen the country's capabilities and self-restraint in the last few days. First of all, I would like to salute our armed forces, intelligence and our scientists on behalf of every citizen."

Congratulating and saluting security forces, he said full freedom had been given to the Indian army to wipe out the terrorists. "And today every terrorist, every terror organisation knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai (what is the consequence of removing the vermilion from the forehead of our sisters and daughters)."

PM Modi's address comes two days after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect. The understanding was reached after four days of cross-border strikes that triggered fears of a wider conflict.

India had launched Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of May 6 and 7 to avenge the killings of 26 people in the Pahalgam terror attack. Indian armed forces targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing over 100 terrorists.