​Fire and ceasefire: On Operation Sindoor and the understanding

India refrained from using the term 'ceasefire' when referring to the understanding reached with Pakistan because Operation Sindoor is still undergoing, government sources told India Today TV.

Tensions between both countries have been escalating since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and then Operation Sindoor, launched by India in response.

"Operation Sindoor is not over. We are in a new normal. That is why we are using the word understanding and stoppage of fire. The ceasefire has been repeatedly violated by Pakistan," government sources said.

Days after over 100 terrorists were killed after India's strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, both countries reached an understanding late Saturday to halt all firings and military actions on land, air, and sea with immediate effect.

During a media briefing on the matter, however, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri did not use the word "ceasefire", as was used by US President Donald Trump, who had announced that the ceasefire was achieved through US mediation. "...I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.", Trump said in a post on Truth Social.While Trump called the agreement that of a ceasefire, neither India nor Pakistan used the term.

Vikram Misri, during the briefing on Saturday, said that the Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan called his Indian counterpart and both countries have reached an agreement to stop all firing and military actions."It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 5 pm today," Misri said.

However, hours after the announcement was made, heavy firing and shelling from Pakistan's side was reported along the Line of Control, violating the agreement with renewed aggression. Pakistan has previously violated ceasefire repeatedly.

In a detailed press briefing held on Saturday evening, senior officials from India’s armed forces addressed the nation on Operation Sindoor, reaffirming the country’s commitment to the recently agreed ceasefire while strongly refuting a series of misinformation narratives emerging from Pakistan.

The briefing was led by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, with inputs from Commodore Raghu R Nair, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. The officers shared key operational updates and clarified various circulating claims.

Commodore Raghu R Nair said that the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force have been instructed to fully adhere to the ceasefire understanding announced earlier in the day. “Since the tragic events at Pahalgam, our responses have been measured and responsible,” he said, adding that false narratives from across the border were being countered with facts and transparency.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, addressing in Hindi, categorically refuted multiple claims made by Pakistan regarding alleged damage to India’s strategic assets. She said that assertions about destruction of S-400 and BrahMos bases, as well as airfields in Sirsa, Jammu, Pathankot, Bathinda, Naliya, and Bhuj, were entirely baseless.

Further, she pointed out that claims about damage to ammunition depots in Chandigarh and Beas were unfounded, adding that proof of their integrity had already been presented during the morning briefing. “These statements are far from reality and do not reflect the ground situation,” she said.

Addressing concerns regarding allegations around religious sites, Colonel Qureshi added that India, as a secular nation, holds all places of worship in the highest respect. “Our armed forces uphold constitutional values and have not caused any harm to religious structures,” she said.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh echoed similar sentiments, underlining that Indian operations have strictly targeted terrorist facilities and not civilian or religious infrastructure. “Pakistan’s claims about the targeting of mosques are completely unfounded,” she stated.“Across the Line of Control, Indian forces inflicted precise damage on key military infrastructure, command centres, and logistic nodes,” Wing Commander Singh said. “This has severely impacted Pakistan’s defensive capabilities.”

Commodore Nair underlined the commitment of India’s armed forces to the ceasefire agreement, while reiterating the country’s preparedness. “We remain fully operationally ready and ever vigilant. Any misadventure will be met with a decisive response,”he said.