In a decisive message to the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US Vice President JD Vance that India's response to any Pakistani escalation would be “more forceful, stronger, more devastating.” This conversation, held on May 9, came amid heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK at nine sites, with subsequent Indian strikes on eight Pakistani air bases after a retaliatory attempt by Islamabad on May 10.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh conveyed India's unwavering stance to their global counterparts, emphasising that New Delhi would swiftly and decisively strike back. India also rejected backchannel diplomacy, insisting on direct communication. The clear diplomatic message: there would be no equivalence between the victim and the perpetrator. Even as global actors sought de-escalation, India's rapid military response set a new precedent in counter-terror operations.