In a landmark shift in national security doctrine, India has announced that any future acts of terrorism on its soil will be treated as an “Act of War.” The declaration signals the government’s readiness to respond with decisive and proportionate military force, marking a sharp escalation in India’s counterterrorism posture.

The new policy comes in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in the Baisaran Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians—many of them tourists—were killed in a coordinated assault. Indian officials have pointed to cross-border involvement, particularly from Pakistan-based militant groups, as the source of the attack. Although Pakistan denies any role, the incident has pushed India to redefine its rules of engagement.

According to top government sources, India’s armed forces are now on heightened alert, with new protocols in place to authorize immediate retaliation in the event of another terrorist strike. The policy change reflects the government’s belief that conventional diplomatic mechanisms have failed to deter such attacks, necessitating a more aggressive, military-led response.

Historical parallels are being drawn to the Defence of India Act of 1915, which empowered the colonial government to take extraordinary measures during World War I. That legislation allowed preventive detention and trial without due process in the name of national security. While today’s India remains a constitutional democracy, the reference underscores a historical willingness to prioritize security in times of national peril.

Domestically, the move has generated strong reactions. Defense analysts have largely welcomed the policy as a long-overdue deterrent against state-sponsored terrorism, while civil rights advocates have raised concerns about the potential erosion of checks and balances in wartime scenarios.

The timing of the announcement has also fueled debate over the role of the media in shaping public sentiment during crises. On May 9, the Supreme Court overturned a Delhi High Court directive ordering Wikipedia to remove content related to a defamation case involving ANI, the news agency that first reported the story. The Supreme Court’s ruling reinforced the importance of press freedom, especially during sensitive national moments.

India’s position has drawn the attention of global powers. Both the United States and the United Nations have urged restraint and encouraged dialogue between India and Pakistan, though diplomatic channels have so far failed to de-escalate tensions. International observers are closely monitoring the region amid fears that a single incident could spiral into a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.

As India recalibrates its approach to national security, the stakes have been raised significantly—not only for regional stability but also for the global fight against terrorism. The coming weeks are expected to test both India’s resolve and the international community’s capacity to manage crisis diplomacy.

With tensions between India and Pakistan escalating after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam and India’s subsequent retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor, public curiosity has turned to whether sports icons like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar—both of whom hold honorary ranks in the Indian armed forces—could be deployed to the frontlines in the event of full-scale war.

Dhoni holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army’s Parachute Regiment, and Sachin Tendulkar is a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force. While both have undergone ceremonial or symbolic training, their military roles are primarily meant to inspire youth and promote patriotism rather than engage in combat operations.

A recent government notification has empowered the Chief of Army Staff to mobilize Territorial Army personnel for essential duties, strengthening speculation about the potential involvement of celebrities who hold such ranks. However, military experts emphasize that honorary appointments are largely symbolic and do not imply operational deployment.

“The Territorial Army is part of the reserve force and can be mobilized during national emergencies, but honorary officers like Dhoni and Tendulkar are not combat-ready troops. Their primary role is motivational,” explained retired Lieutenant Colonel (Dr.) Satish Dhage.

The Territorial Army comprises civilian volunteers who undergo training and are mobilized during wartime or national emergencies. It has played key roles in past conflicts such as the Indo-China War of 1962 and the Kargil War of 1999. Cricketers like Hemu Adhikari, who served in World War II and held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, are rare examples of sportsmen directly participating in war.

In addition to Dhoni and Tendulkar, several other public figures such as Kapil Dev, Abhinav Bindra, Nana Patekar, and Mohanlal have also been granted honorary positions in the Territorial Army. These appointments are largely ceremonial and serve to bridge civilian-military relations.

While the Territorial Army can be called into active duty under extraordinary circumstances, the deployment of honorary officers like Dhoni or Tendulkar remains extremely unlikely. The purpose of their association with the forces is to serve as national icons, not frontline soldiers.

In conclusion, unless the country faces a dire, all-hands-on-deck situation, Dhoni and Tendulkar are not expected to be sent to the border. Their military ranks honor their achievements and patriotic spirit but do not translate into combat responsibilities in wartime.

Indian military strikes carried out on May 7 as part of Operation Sindoor have eliminated several top-tier terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), in what officials are calling a significant blow to Pakistan-based terror networks. Sources confirmed the deaths of five high-profile operatives, all of whom had long histories of involvement in attacks on Indian soil.

Among those neutralized:

• Mudassar Khadian Khas (alias Abu Jundal) – A prominent LeT operative, known for his involvement in organizing attacks in Jammu & Kashmir. His funeral, held at a government school in Pakistan, was attended by Hafiz Abdul Rauf of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and high-ranking Pakistani military officials, raising serious questions about the country’s ties to terror outfits.

• Hafiz Muhammed Jameel – A senior JeM leader and elder brother-in-law of Masood Azhar. His death marks the removal of a core figure within the group’s leadership hierarchy, which has overseen attacks such as the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

• Mohammad Yusuf Azhar (also known as Ustad Ji, Mohd Salim, or Ghosi Sahab) – Another JeM operative and brother-in-law of Masood Azhar. A key figure in the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, Yusuf had long been on India’s most-wanted list. His elimination is considered a strategic win for Indian counter-terror operations.

• Khalid (alias Abu Akasha) – An LeT militant known for smuggling weapons from Afghanistan and participating in attacks in Kashmir. His funeral in Faisalabad was also attended by Pakistani army officials and the city’s Deputy Commissioner, further drawing international concern.

• Mohammad Hassan Khan – Son of Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, JeM’s operational commander in PoK. Hassan Khan was directly involved in coordinating terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and played a central role in JeM’s logistics and training.

Operation Sindoor targeted nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including key LeT and JeM strongholds in Bahawalpur and Muridke. Intelligence reports estimate that 70 to 80 terrorists were killed, with 30 casualties each reported in Bahawalpur and Muridke.

Indian forces also destroyed a Pakistani air defense radar system in Lahore, showcasing the success of India’s Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) capability—a strategy to cripple enemy radar and missile infrastructure and ensure air dominance during operations.

The strikes came in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead, including tourists. Indian officials have labeled the operation as not only a retaliation but a pre-emptive action to dismantle terror infrastructure that threatens national security.

Of particular concern is the presence of Pakistani military and civil officials at the funerals of known terrorists, a move Indian officials say reveals the deep-rooted collusion between the Pakistani state and proscribed terror groups. This has reignited calls for the international community to reassess financial and diplomatic engagements with Pakistan, especially considering its ongoing support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

India has reiterated its demand for global accountability on state-sponsored terrorism and urged international institutions to take cognizance of the latest evidence linking Pakistan to terror facilitation. Officials stated that further details would be presented to the United Nations and other global platforms in the coming days.

As Operation Sindoor continues to shift the balance against cross-border terrorism, New Delhi has signaled that it will not hesitate to take similar actions in the future should threats persist.

In a major diplomatic rebuttal, both India and Afghanistan have categorically denied Pakistan’s allegations that an Indian missile attack was launched from or targeted Afghan territory. The denials come amidst rapidly intensifying military tensions in South Asia, following a wave of deadly exchanges between India and Pakistan.

Also Read: India Rejects Pakistan’s Missile Strike Allegation on Afghanistan as “Baseless and Inflammatory”

The Afghan Ministry of Defense, represented by spokesman Inayatullah Khawarizmi, firmly dismissed the Pakistani claims as “baseless and fabricated.” Speaking to Hurriyat Radio Pashto, Khawarizmi asserted that no missile activity occurred on Afghan soil, accusing Islamabad of deliberately spreading misinformation to deflect from its own regional activities.

Echoing Afghanistan’s stance, India’s Ministry of External Affairs also rejected the accusations, labeling them “false propaganda” aimed at misleading the international community. Indian officials indirectly referenced Pakistan’s past interference in Afghanistan, asserting that the Afghan people are fully aware of who has historically respected their sovereignty—and who has not.

These denials follow India’s confirmed military operation on May 7, 2025—Operation Sindoor—in which the Indian Air Force carried out coordinated precision strikes on four Pakistani airbases: Chaklala (Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal), Rafiqui (Shorkot), and one undisclosed site. The operation was reportedly in retaliation for a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that claimed 26 civilian lives, an act India attributes to Pakistan-based terror outfits.

In response, Pakistan claimed it shot down five Indian aircraft and issued warnings of severe retaliation. Furthermore, Pakistani military officials alleged that India had used Afghan territory as a launchpad for the missile attacks—an assertion now firmly denied by both Kabul and New Delhi.

Meanwhile, civilian casualties continue to rise on both sides of the Line of Control in Kashmir, as border hostilities intensify. The growing conflict has caught the attention of global powers, with the United States calling for immediate de-escalation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly spoke with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, offering Washington’s support to mediate talks and prevent further escalation.

Complicating matters further are the long-standing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan over border violations, cross-border militant activity, and Pakistan’s historical involvement with groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. These factors add to the skepticism in Kabul regarding Pakistan’s narrative.

With both India and Afghanistan taking a unified stance against Islamabad’s allegations, regional observers suggest a shifting geopolitical alignment may be underway. As the international community watches closely, the need for diplomacy and restraint grows ever more urgent amid fears of a wider military confrontation in South Asia.

In a deeply tragic incident that underscores the intensifying hostilities between India and Pakistan, Subedar Major Pawan Jarial of the 25 Punjab Regiment was martyred on Saturday morning in unprovoked Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir.

Hailing from Shahpur Nagar Panchayat in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, the decorated soldier was serving in a unit with historical roots dating back to the British Indian Army’s Punjab Frontier Force of 1857. Following India’s partition, certain battalions like the one Subedar Major Jarial served in remained part of the Indian Army, continuing their valiant legacy in defending the nation.

The fresh shelling incident comes amid escalating military tensions sparked by the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 civilian lives. In retaliation, the Indian Army launched Operation Sindoor, a series of pre-dawn missile strikes on nine identified terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Pakistani Army responded with heavy cross-border firing, leading to casualties on both sides.

On May 7, three civilians were killed and nine others injured in a similar round of shelling, prompting authorities to shut down schools and colleges in five border districts—Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch—to ensure civilian safety amid the growing crisis.

The martyrdom of Subedar Major Jarial has plunged his hometown into mourning, as locals and officials alike remember him as a proud son of the soil who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.

Internationally, the conflict has raised alarms, with Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressing “deep concern” and urging both countries to pursue diplomatic solutions. Meanwhile, the Indian Army has intensified its counteroffensive, destroying several enemy posts and inflicting significant damage, according to official statements.

In response to the unfolding situation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level security review meeting on May 7, attended by the Lieutenant Governors and Chief Ministers of states bordering Pakistan and Nepal. The discussions focused on the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, security preparedness, and future counterterrorism strategies.

As India mourns another braveheart lost to cross-border aggression, the situation on the LoC remains tense, with no signs of immediate de-escalation.