The reaffirmation of the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control has drawn widespread approval from the international community and regional observers. While the move is a welcome step toward reducing hostilities, it is both natural and necessary to examine the motivations behind India’s decision and its broader implications.

Some skeptics—particularly within hardline nationalist and strategic circles—may interpret the move as a compromise or a softening of resolve. However, such interpretations overlook the broader strategic framework and the deliberate statecraft behind this decision.

India’s earlier military responses—be it surgical strikes or precision airstrikes—were never intended to escalate into a full-scale war. Rather, they were carefully measured responses to acts of terror, notably the heinous massacre of innocent tourists in Pahalgam. That tragic event provoked public outrage and demanded a strong governmental response. These military operations aimed to convey a message of........

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