The New Normal After Pahalgam, India’s Strategic Shift in Counterterrorism
Why in News?
India’s response to the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, codenamed Operation Sindoor, has redefined the country’s counterterrorism doctrine. This response signals a shift towards establishing a new normal in kinetic retaliation against cross-border terrorism and marks a more expansive, proactive military posture. 
Introduction
Terrorist violence emanating from across the border has long challenged India’s internal security. However, with the Pahalgam attack—one of the latest provocations—India has moved from reactionary to pre-emptive countermeasures, aiming to reshape deterrence strategy and signal stronger resolve to adversaries.
Key Issues and Background
1. Operation Sindoor and India’s Escalatory Shift
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After the deadly attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pahalgam, India executed surgical strikes across the LoC, targeting terrorist launchpads.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on May 12, 2025, that India had “redefined the fight,” setting a new benchmark in counterterrorism.
2. 88 Hours to a Ceasefire
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India’s retaliation involved airstrikes, closing diplomatic channels, suspending trade, and issuing warnings under the Indus Waters Treaty.
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Indian forces planned and executed multi-layered attacks on terror targets in PoK and select Pakistani installations, emphasizing precision, speed, and signaling.
The Core of the Concern
Strategic Deterrence in the ‘New Normal’
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Expansive Retaliation Framework:
India’s operation included the use of advanced missiles (Scalp, BrahMos), drones, and airstrikes across Pakistan-administered areas like Rahim Yar Khan and Skardu. -
Pakistan’s Mixed Response:
Pakistan tried to frame the conflict through a victim narrative, citing civilian casualties and internationalizing the matter, but avoided direct military escalation. -
Dealing with Nuclear Shadow:
Unlike previous escalations, the recent one occurred despite the nuclear deterrence backdrop, showing India’s willingness to call the nuclear bluff without triggering full-scale war.
Key Observations
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India’s shift from a reactive to a proactive posture aims to increase the cost of terrorism for Pakistan.
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The use of high-tech weapons and multiple domain targeting signals preparedness for future threats.
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International response, especially from the U.S., showed tacit support without direct involvement, indicating diplomatic maturity.
Conclusion
India’s “new normal” in counterterrorism reflects a calibrated, assertive, and technologically sophisticated doctrine that relies on credible kinetic responses rather than just diplomatic warnings. The response to Pahalgam was not just about retaliation but also about establishing deterrence, signaling that future terror strikes will meet with firm and expansive responses. This evolving doctrine is likely to shape South Asia’s security environment in the coming years.
5 Questions and Answers
Q1. What triggered India’s new counterterrorism response in April 2025?
A: The terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, by JeM prompted India’s military response through Operation Sindoor.
Q2. What made India’s response different this time?
A: Unlike past operations, India responded with multi-domain kinetic actions, use of precision missiles, airstrikes across PoK, and strategic signaling aimed at long-term deterrence.
Q3. How did Pakistan react to India’s response?
A: Pakistan attempted to internationalize the conflict and denied certain escalations but avoided direct retaliation, possibly to prevent further conflict.
Q4. What does ‘the new normal’ in India’s strategy imply?
A: It refers to an expanded, consistent, and assertive military doctrine that responds to terrorism with credible force to raise the cost of cross-border aggression.
Q5. How does the nuclear factor play into India’s evolving doctrine?
A: India is now willing to act under the nuclear shadow, indicating a calibrated risk approach where deterrence is maintained without letting nuclear threats paralyze response.
