Operation Sindoor: India’s strike against Pahalgam terror

Chandan Kumar Nath

(chandankumarnath7236@gmail.com)

On May 7, 2025, India launched ‘Operation Sin-door’, a series of precision strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This military operation was a direct response to the barbaric terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali citizen. The operation underscores India’s resolute stance against cross-border terrorism while navigating the delicate balance of regional stability between two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The Pahalgam terror attack, one of the deadliest in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, targeted tourists in the picturesque Baisaran Valley. Five armed militants, identified as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), singled out non-Muslim tourists, primarily Hindus, killing 26 people. The attackers used M4 carbines and AK-47s, and their actions were marked by chilling brutality, with victims asked to recite the Islamic ‘kalima’ to identify non-Muslims. The attack, which TRF initially claimed was a protest against non-local settlement in Kashmir, sparked outrage across India and prompted international condemnation from leaders like US President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Indian investigations revealed that two of the attackers, Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, were Pakistani nationals linked to LeT, with Musa having previously served in Pakistan’s paramilitary forces. The attack’s cross-border linkages, coupled with Pakistan’s historical support for groups like LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), fuelled calls for a strong response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cutting short a visit to Saudi Arabia, vowed to pursue the perpetrators “to the ends of the earth”, setting the stage for “Operation Sindoor”.

Launched at 1:44 AM on May 7, 2025, “Operation Sindoor” targeted nine terrorist facilities across Pakistan and PoJK, including the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur and LeT’s base in Muridke, both in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The operation, a joint effort by the Indian Army and Air Force, utilised precision strike weapons to minimise collateral damage. The Ministry of Defence emphasised that the strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” deliberately avoiding Pakistani military installations to prevent a broader conflict. The Indian Army’s post on X, “Justice is Served. Jai Hind!” encapsulated the operation’s intent to hold terrorist groups accountable while signalling restraint. Intelligence, which pinpointed senior LeT and JeM leadership involved in orchestrating attacks against India, informed the strikes. Sources reported that the operation disrupted key terror infrastructure, including training camps and command centres. The name “Operation Sindoor” carried symbolic weight, evoking the image of a married Hindu woman’s vermilion mark, particularly resonant given the death of Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, whose wife’s grief became a national symbol of loss. The operation disrupted air travel in northern India, with IndiGo Airlines reporting delays and cancellations in cities like Srinagar, Jammu, and Leh due to airspace restrictions. Prime Minister Modi monitored the operation throughout the night, and senior officials briefed counterparts in the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Russia, reflecting India’s intent to maintain transparency with global partners.

Pakistan’s response was swift but mixed. The Pakistani military confirmed strikes in Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Muzaffarabad, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claiming civilian targets were hit, a charge India refuted. Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri, resulting in three civilian deaths, according to the Indian Army. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, reserving the right to retaliate “at a time and place of its choosing”. However, intelligence reports indicated that Pakistani terrorists at launchpads in PoJK retreated deeper into Pakistan, suggesting a temporary disruption of infiltration attempts. Internationally, reactions underscored the need for de-escalation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both nations to exercise “maximum restraint”, while the US, through Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, expressed solidarity with India but encouraged dialogue. China, Pakistan’s ally, supported a “prompt and impartial investigation” into the Pahalgam attack, urging restraint to avoid escalation. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) criticised India’s “harsh rhetoric”, a statement India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed as “absurd” for ignoring Pakistan’s role in terrorism.

“Operation Sindoor” is part of a broader Indian strategy to counter Pakistan’s proxy warfare, often described as “bleeding India with a thousand cuts”. The operation follows a series of retaliatory measures post-Pahalgam, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the Attari-Wagah border, and restrictions on Pakistani visas and media content. These steps signal a breakdown in bilateral trust, with India leveraging economic and diplomatic tools to pressure Pakistan. The operation also reflects India’s evolving military doctrine, emphasising preemptive and precise strikes to neutralise threats without triggering all-out war. Unlike the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, which followed the Pulwama attack, “Operation Sindoor” was more extensive, targeting multiple sites, yet maintained a non-escalatory posture. Defence expert Nitin Gokhale noted that the operation aimed to “dismantle terror networks while avoiding a broader military confrontation”, a strategy necessitated by the nuclear capabilities of both nations. “Operation Sindoor” has bolstered India’s domestic resolve to combat terrorism, with leaders across the political spectrum, from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, hailing the strikes. However, it has heightened tensions along the LoC, with Pakistan’s shelling and ceasefire violations raising the risk of escalation. The operation’s success in disrupting terror networks will depend on sustained intelligence and international pressure on Pakistan to curb groups like LeT and JeM. India faces the challenge of balancing its zero-tolerance policy with the need to avoid a wider conflict. The Pahalgam attack exposed security lapses, with questions raised about the lack of CRPF deployment at Baisaran and delays in response. Addressing these gaps and maintaining public trust will be critical.

“Operation Sindoor” marks a significant chapter in India’s fight against cross-border terrorism, reflecting both its military capability and diplomatic restraint. By targeting terror infrastructure while avoiding Pakistani military assets, India has sent a clear message of accountability without crossing the threshold of war. However, the operation’s long-term impact hinges on Pakistan’s response, international mediation, and India’s ability to strengthen internal security. As the region braces for potential fallout, the world watches closely, hoping for de-escalation in a volatile South Asian landscape.