Modi warns Pakistan: Next attack will be met with BrahMos missiles

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that any future terrorist attacks on India originating from Pakistan will be met with a decisive military response using BrahMos cruise missiles, produced at a new joint Russian-Indian facility.

“BrahMos missiles will now be manufactured in Lucknow, in the state of Uttar Pradesh,” Modi announced during a speech in Varanasi. “If Pakistan commits another sin, missiles made in Uttar Pradesh will destroy the terrorists,” he said emphatically. He added that “in Pakistan, the mere mention of BrahMos keeps them awake at night,” and stressed, “BrahMos missiles from Uttar Pradesh will strike terrorists in the event of a new attack.”

Highlighting India’s growing defence capabilities, Modi pointed to the country’s recent military operation as evidence of the effectiveness of its defence systems. “The international community has already seen the success of Indian defence systems during Operation Sindoor,” he noted, citing India’s use of air defence systems, missiles, and drones as proof of the nation’s commitment to self-reliance in defence.

The BrahMos missile was co-developed by Russia’s Machine Building Scientific Association and India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation, under the Ministry of Defence. The two sides established BrahMos Aerospace in 1995 to produce the missile. Available in land-, sea-, and air-launched versions, BrahMos missiles are a central component of India’s military arsenal.

On May 11, a new BrahMos missile production facility began operations in Lucknow. The plant spans 81 hectares and was built at a cost of 3 billion rupees (approximately $35 million). It is expected to produce 80 to 100 BrahMos missiles of the existing versions each year. Within a year, the facility aims to manufacture 100 to 150 new-generation BrahMos-NG missiles annually. Media reports indicate that the BrahMos-NG will feature a range exceeding 300 kilometres and will weigh 1.29 tons, less than half the original version’s weight of 2.9 tons.

The Indian prime minister’s comments come in the aftermath of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in early May 2025. The crisis was sparked by a terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 Hindu tourists, which India attributed to Pakistan-based militant groups. The incident escalated into a series of military exchanges, raising international fears of a potential nuclear confrontation.

In response to the attack, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” conducting targeted missile strikes against alleged terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated with drone deployments and airstrikes, resulting in intense engagements between the two countries’ air forces. Reports confirmed the loss of several Indian aircraft, including a Rafale fighter jet, while Pakistan reported significant damage to its air defence installations.

The clashes triggered urgent diplomatic interventions, with U.S. officials—Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—directly engaging Indian and Pakistani leadership in efforts to de-escalate the situation. These talks eventually led to a ceasefire agreement, reopening both countries’ airspaces and allowing the resumption of civilian flights.

Nevertheless, isolated ceasefire violations continued along the Line of Control, with both India and Pakistan accusing each other of breaches. While Pakistan expressed appreciation for international mediation, India maintained that the ceasefire was achieved through direct military communication between New Delhi and Islamabad.

By Tamilla Hasanova