‘Water and Blood Cannot Flow Together’: PM Modi Declares After ‘Operation Sindoor’ Strikes

New Delhi, 12th May 2025: In a stern warning to Pakistan and a reassurance to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the country for the first time after India’s high-intensity military offensive under ‘Operation Sindoor’, asserting that “India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail” and will engage with Pakistan only on the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

PM Modi also underlined that while “Operation Sindoor has been paused, it is not halted,” signaling that India’s military posture remains ready and calibrated following precise strikes on terrorist infrastructure deep inside Pakistan.

The address came amid rising domestic and international attention on the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s powerful retaliation targeting long-protected terror bases like Bahawalpur and Muridke, which the PM described as “universities of global terrorism.”

‘India destroyed Pakistan’s terror structure’
Referring to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where terrorists brutally killed civilians after asking about their religion, PM Modi called the incident a “disgusting attempt to break the harmony of the country.” He said the Indian Army was given full freedom to act, and their actions under Operation Sindoor had “shaken the morale of terrorists and destroyed their bases.”

“Over 100 dreaded terrorists have been killed, and those who were conspiring against India for decades were finished in one stroke,” Modi said, adding that India’s missile and drone strikes decimated Pakistan’s military pride, including its airbases.

No Tolerance for Terror or Nuclear Blackmail
Sending a clear message to Islamabad and the global community, PM Modi said: “India will not tolerate nuclear blackmail. We will strike precisely and decisively against any terror base, no matter where it is sheltered.”

He further added that Pakistan’s act of launching retaliatory attacks only exposed its hand in state-sponsored terrorism, as it targeted civilian areas and religious places in India.

Talks only on PoK, not terror appeasement
Declaring a shift in India’s diplomatic approach, the Prime Minister made it unequivocally clear that “talks with Pakistan will be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.” He rejected any possibility of peace negotiations under the shadow of terrorism, reiterating: “Terror and talks cannot go hand in hand. Terror and trade cannot go on together. And water and blood cannot flow together.”

The message came on a day Pakistan’s army reportedly reached out through military channels seeking de-escalation, following severe losses inflicted by Indian precision strikes.

Operation Sindoor – A New Normal
Calling Operation Sindoor a “new standard” in India’s fight against terrorism, PM Modi stated: “This operation is not just about military might. It is about justice, unity, and India’s resolve. It is a pledge that if terror returns, we will strike again, harder.”

He lauded the Indian armed forces, intelligence agencies, scientists, and indigenously developed weapon systems, noting that the offensive proved the capability of ‘Made in India’ defence technology in modern warfare.

A Warning to Pakistan, A Call to the World
Warning that Pakistan’s patronage of terrorism will “one day destroy Pakistan itself,” PM Modi urged the international community to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.

“This may not be an era of war,” he said, invoking the teachings of Buddha on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, “but it is not the era of terrorism either.”

The Road Ahead
With Pakistan’s request for a ceasefire and India declaring a pause—but not a stop—in military action, the geopolitical climate remains tense but under control. PM Modi concluded his address with a firm reassurance: “Every Indian should know, we are united, we are capable, and we are ready to protect our nation’s dignity at any cost.”