An ‘Act of War’ is a term in international law that refers to any action-typically by a state or its proxies-that constitutes a direct attack on another nation’s sovereignty, security, or interests. Historically, when a country designates an attack as an ‘act of war,’ it reserves the right to respond with force in self-defence, as permitted under Article 51 of the UN Charter. This is a significant escalation from treating terror incidents as criminal acts, as it opens the door for military retaliation and international diplomatic consequences.
On May 10, 2025, top government sources confirmed that any future act of terrorism will be considered an ‘Act of War’ against India, triggering a corresponding response. The decision follows the brutal Pahalgam attack on April 22, in which 26 civilians-mostly tourists-were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists. This attack, and a series of escalatory moves by Pakistan, including drone and missile strikes on Indian military and civilian targets, prompted India to harden its security doctrine. In retaliation, India launched precision strikes on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing several top Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives involved in cross-border terrorism. By redefining terror attacks as acts of war, India is sending a clear warning to Pakistan and any state or group supporting terrorism: the cost of sponsoring or executing such attacks will now be far more severe, potentially inviting direct military action.
Under the UN Charter, countries are generally prohibited from using force against each other except in cases of self-defence or with Security Council approval. By declaring terror attacks as acts of war, India is asserting its right to self-defence against state-sponsored terrorism, especially when there is clear evidence of cross-border involvement.
After India’s strikes under Operation Sindoor, Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile attacks on military and civilian targets in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. The Indian armed forces responded by destroying six Pakistani airbases and shooting down several drones. Despite the escalation, both countries agreed to an immediate ceasefire on May 10, following international mediation. However, India’s new doctrine remains in place, signaling a permanent shift in its approach to terrorism.
This policy marks a hardening of India’s national security doctrine, ensuring that future terror attacks will not be treated as isolated law-and-order issues but as grave threats to the nation’s sovereignty. The move is designed to deter not just non-state actors but also the states that sponsor or harbor them, by raising the stakes for any future attacks.India’s stance could influence other nations facing similar threats and may reshape the international response to cross-border terrorism.