India launched strikes against Pakistan after more than two weeks of rising public and political pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take decisive action. The pressure followed a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir.
The incident took place last month when armed militants attacked the scenic region of Pahalgam, killing 25 Indian tourists in what became one of the most severe assaults on Indian civilians in recent years. The massacre worsened already strained ties between India and Pakistan, with New Delhi quickly holding Islamabad responsible.
Modi, known for his strong Hindu nationalist image and recently re-elected for a rare third term, vowed to relentlessly pursue those responsible, declaring they would be hunted “to the ends of the earth.”
Modi leads a fiercely patriotic nation that takes pride in its resilience and ability to confront threats. After the massacre, Indian media—often nationalist and provocative—demanded a forceful response.
One television channel carried the headline, “We want revenge,” while another declared, “Bharat is battle ready,” using India’s traditional Sanskrit name.
Experts suggest that a forceful reaction from Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was inevitable.
“Prime Minister Modi and his administration see a strong response to the Pahalgam attack as necessary,” said Derek J. Grossman, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation, a U.S.-based research organization.
“Public opinion in India is likely to back any action taken by the government—short of nuclear warfare—because there’s a widespread belief that Pakistan needs to be deterred from future aggression,” he added.
