In this screengrab from a video posted by @adgpi via X on May 10, 2025, visuals of ‘Operation Sindoor’ in light of the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan. (Pics/PTI)
Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Gautam Bambawale, has characterised the ongoing military confrontation between India and Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor as a "war-like situation", stressing that the Indian government is displaying a "steely resolve" in the face of rising tensions.
Speaking at a panel discussion titled âOperation Sindoor' organised by the Pune International Centre (PIC) on Friday, Bambawale cautioned that while the situation has not yet tipped into full-scale warfare, the two nations appear to be on the brink. "I would describe the present circumstances as a war-like situation," he remarked. "By that, I mean we are dangerously close to entering into a full-scale war, although we are not there yet," he said, according to PTI reports.
Bambawale, who has also served as India's ambassador to China, noted that three core elements determine a nation's capacity to navigate such precarious times - the government, the armed forces, and the people.
"The first is the government. Over the past decade or so, this administration has shown steely resolve. It is evident they are clear about their objectives, know precisely what needs to be done, and what they aim to target," said Bambawale. "The second pillar is the Armed Forces, whose capabilities have been clearly demonstrated in recent days. Their commitment and resolve mirror that of the political leadership, and they are focused on executing the missions assigned to them," he added.
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He emphasised that the third and equally vital component is the people of the country. "In any war-like condition, outcomes are rarely one-sided. There are bound to be setbacks, and we ourselves might be targeted - just as citizens in border areas like Poonch have suffered from Pakistani actions," Bambawale said, as per PTI. "In such moments, the public must remain resolute. We must not be distracted or demoralised. This is a collective fight for justice - against terrorism and those who enable and finance it."
The panel also featured defence experts including Lt Gen V G Patankar (Retd), Col Vinayak Bhat, Air Marshal Dipendu Choudhury (Retd), and Captain D K Sharma (Retd). The discussion was moderated by Major General Nitin Gadkari (Retd), Director of the Pune International Centre.
(With inputs from PTI)
