What Modi’s Grant of Military Operational Freedom Means
PM Narendra Modi at a meeting with heads of armed forces on Tuesday (Image credit X.com)
Modi Grants Military ‘Operational Freedom’ After Pahalgam Attack Kills 26, Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions
By Manish Anand
NEW DELHI, April 29, 2025 — Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday granted the military operational freedom to respond, according to government sources cited by Agence France-Presse.
The attack, which killed 26 tourists, has intensified India-Pakistan hostilities, prompting speculation about India’s next steps. Modi chaired a high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the national security adviser, the chief of defence staff, and heads of the armed forces.
He affirmed that the military has “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of our response”.
Modi is expected to convene another meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday to further address the crisis.
In a related development, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat met Modi in New Delhi, joined by Home Minister Amit Shah. Bhagwat, who has been in the capital for several days, advocated punitive action against Pakistan during a book launch speech on Saturday.
He referenced the “duty of the king” to punish wrongdoers, a veiled allusion to Pakistan’s alleged role in the attack.
Security analysts, however, are divided on India’s potential response. An emerging consensus suggests India is unlikely to pursue full-scale war with Pakistan. This mirrors Modi’s approach during the 2020 Galwan Valley clash with China, where the Indian military was granted operational freedom along the Line of Actual Control.
Similarly, after the 2019 Pulwama attack, India opted for a targeted airstrike in Balakot rather than broader conflict.
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Prabdeep Singh Behl, commenting on LinkedIn, emphasized alternatives to war: “A counter-terrorist response doesn’t necessarily mean going to war. There are many other means to bring down our adversary to its knees. Pakistan lacks the economic heft to fight a war against India.” Behl, responding to security analyst David J. Karl’s reference to a New York Times article highlighting India’s military modernization challenges, added, “As to our preparedness, it is always looked at holistically while facing a 2.5-front all-out war … What we possess is enough to deal with Pakistan, and deal we shall in our own way.”
Karl had cited a 2018 parliamentary report noting that 68% of India’s military equipment was “vintage,” with only 8% considered state-of-the-art.
Analysts largely agree that India may favour non-military measures, such as economic sanctions or diplomatic isolation, given its restraint after the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
On X, @Conflict_Radar reported Modi’s directive, stating, “Indian PM Modi gives ‘operational freedom’ to military forces to decide on ‘mode, targets, and timing’ in Pakistan,” reflecting heightened public attention.
India’s recent actions — suspending the Indus Water Treaty, closing the Attari-Wagah border, and deploying INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea — signal a firm stance. Yet, the risk of escalation looms, with Pakistan’s economic fragility and India’s ongoing military modernization shaping strategic calculations.
The situation remains fluid, with India balancing domestic calls for action against the costs of conflict. Whether operational freedom translates to surgical strikes, covert operations, or diplomatic pressure remains unclear, but Modi’s directive underscores a proactive posture in addressing cross-border terrorism.
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
About The Author
