Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that he has given the army "full operational freedom in making decisions about the methods, targets, and timing of the response" to the terrorist attacks carried out by militants based in Pakistan. "Our national resolve is to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism," he added.
In other words, Modi has decided to take the well-trodden path: claiming that there is no war with Pakistan and there will not be one. Instead, there will be an anti-terrorist operation, but under the conditions of "full operational freedom" for the army. Theoretically, such an operation may not differ from war in any significant way, except for the official diplomatic status.
However, it seems to me that from Modi's side such a statement is rather a step back towards de-escalation of an already brewing conflict: at least judging by the words about "any time," which can be interpreted as "sometime later."
Although everything looks extremely alarming for now: normal exchanges of fire were happening at the Indo-Pakistani border last night, using artillery and everything that is typically involved in such cases; the cannonade reminiscent of Donbas can be appreciated in the videos. And the authorities in Pakistan report that India is preparing to start a war within the next 36 hours.