On May 7, 2025, India launched a decisive military response named ‘Operation Sindoor’—a strategic and precision-driven strike against cross-border terrorism. The operation came in the aftermath of the horrific Pahalgam terrorist attack and marks a significant evolution in India’s counter-terrorism doctrine. Combining advanced warfare technology, comprehensive intelligence, and flawless execution, Operation Sindoor exemplifies India’s unwavering stance on national security and justice.
In the pre-dawn hours of May 7, 2025, Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets took off from bases in Rajasthan, their afterburners lighting up the desert sky as they flew west toward the Line of Control. In less than forty minutes those same aircraft fired the first salvo of SCALP cruise missiles and marked the beginning of Operation Sin door, a coordinated tri‑service offensive designed to dismantle Pakistan‑based terrorist infrastructures responsible for the Pahalgam Terror Attack.
The strike was a decisive and strategic masterstroke, but it also unveiled a larger message: the rise of a new Indian security doctrine that blends surgical precision with political will. From the South Block briefing rooms in New Delhi to the corridors of think‑tanks in Washington, the message was explicit ‘India no longer waits to absorb punishment; it acts to prevent the next attack’.
India’s Evolving Military Policy
For decades India’s military posture oscillated between strategic restraint and limited retaliation. The sluggish mobilization model’s flaws were revealed during the Kargil War in 1999, resulting in planners to develop the still-unpublished “Cold Start” doctrine, which outlines a plan for quick, shallow border thrusts that stay avoids nuclear thresholds.
However, although being feared in Islamabad, Cold Start remained politically controversial until the 2019 Balakot air attack and the 2016 Uri surgical strikes demonstrated that retaliatory invasions might garner domestic support without starting a full-scale conflict.
Operation Sindoor takes that evolution a step further. Instead of a single‑night raid, it integrated persistent surveillance, standoff munitions, cyber disruption and information operations into a five‑hour window of overwhelming force. A “Proactive Counter Terror Posture (PCTP)”—pre-emptive, intelligence-led, and legally articulated under Article 51 of the UN Charter’s self-defence clause—is currently openly discussed by the defence ministry.
According to senior officials, upcoming military doctrine will allow future prime ministers to respond to emerging threats with a comprehensive set of calibrated options. These options will range from large-scale, division-level armoured thrusts to precision strikes using autonomous drone swarms. Enabled by a rapidly deployable network of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) stationed across the western front, these capabilities are designed to be operational within as little as 48 hours. This strategic posture aims to provide civilian leadership with the flexibility to tailor military responses based on the scale and nature of provocation, thereby enhancing both deterrence and readiness in a high-stakes regional security environment.
Strategic Objectives of Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was not merely a retaliatory strike—it was a message to the world and to terror sponsors. The operation was driven by the core objectives:
1. Dismantle Terror Infrastructure: The main focus was to obliterate the physical and operational bases of terror groups across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK).
2. Deliver Justice: The operation aimed to punish the perpetrators and serve as retribution for the innocent lives lost in the Pahalgam attack.
3. Demonstrate Military Capability: India sought to showcase its surgical precision and advanced warfare capabilities to both adversaries and allies.
4. Minimize Collateral Damage: Adhere to the evolving Indian principle of Nagrik Raksha (civilian protection), thereby retaining moral high ground and international support.
Planning and Execution: Precision, Secrecy, and Power
Operation Sindoor was a masterclass in modern warfare planning—marked by seamless inter-agency coordination, real-time intelligence fusion, and emphasis on minimizing collateral damage.
Spearheaded by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the operation reflected India’s new counter-terror doctrine, honed over years of asymmetric conflict experience.
The planning phase was conducted under high confidentiality within the South Block war rooms and involved top leadership from:
- Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) – for human intelligence (HUMINT) and deep asset validation.
- Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) – for satellite surveillance and signal interception.
- Indian Air Force (IAF) – for air-delivery logistics and target neutralization.
- Indian Army & Artillery Command – for on-ground readiness and forward deployments.
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) – to deploy electronic warfare and GPS jamming systems.
Countdown to Operation Sindoor
Post the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, a series of high-level consultantions and strategic meetings were conducted at the Prime Minister’s Office to shape India’s response. Some of significant meetings includes:
April 23, 2025 (Wednesday)
Immediately after returning from Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an emergency high-level briefing at Palam Airport. Present at the tarmac meeting were External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and other senior officials.
The PM was briefed on the Pahalgam attack’s confirmed links to Pakistan-based terror groups and expressed grave concern over the targeted killing of civilians, calling it “a barbaric provocation that demands a calibrated yet unflinching response.” Later that day, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met to initiate strategic assessments. Over the next few days, a series of inter-agency war-room briefings took place, aligning intelligence inputs with military options.
After the CCS meeting, India had announced a number of measures, including downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack.
April 24, 2025
PM Modi chaired an all-party meeting, where he emphasized national unity and assured political leaders that the government was preparing a strong and proportionate response.
April 29, 2025
During a top-level meeting at South Block attended by the NSA, service chiefs, and defense planners. Here, Prime Minister Modi gave the Indian Armed Forces a clear “free hand” to decide the timing, scale, and method of retaliation. He stated firmly, “There will be no political interference. You have my full backing. Respond as per your judgment, with precision and purpose.” This directive effectively triggered the final operational phase of Operation Sindoor.
Neutralization of Terrorist Leaders
Among the most critical outcomes of Operation Sindoor was the elimination of top-tier terror leadership. A precision strike on the Bahawalpur madrassa complex killed 14 members of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) founder Masood Azhar’s family. While Azhar himself was absent, his brother Abdul Rauf Asghar, mastermind behind Pathankot and Pulwama was reportedly injured or went underground. Simultaneous strikes neutralized LeT coordinator Qari Saeed, financier Naeem-ul-Haq, and high-value targets Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudassir Ahmad, all linked to the IC-814 hijack and Pulwama blast. In total, over 100 terrorists were killed, crippling operational, financial, and leadership nodes of JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
The strike, carried out using SCALP missiles from IAF Rafale jets, was timed during a high-level internal meeting.
Leadership Behind the Lines
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi played a pivotal role in mission coordination from the Army’s Northern Command war room, ensuring seamless inter-agency execution. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, leading the Rafale air strike unit, was instrumental in real-time target confirmation and aerial precision. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri led backchannel diplomatic outreach to prevent escalation and keep key global allies informed, proving that India’s success was as much strategic as it was tactical.
May 8: Pakistan Responds with Artillery; India’s Retaliatory Response
Just a day after the success of Operation Sindoor, tensions escalated sharply on May 8, 2025, when Pakistan initiated
unprovoked artillery shelling along several sectors of the Line of Control (LoC), including Tangdhar, Uri, and Poonch. The shelling targeted civilian infrastructure, injuring at least 11 villagers and damaging several houses and a school. The Indian Army responded immediately with counter-battery fire, but the situation intensified when Pakistan began mobilizing its short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) units in forward areas—interpreted as a defensive move anticipating further Indian action.
This time India responded with overwhelming air and cyber superiority. Under Operation Sindoor’s extended mandate, India launched a coordinated multi-domain strike targeting Pakistan’s air defense systems and military radar infrastructure. Using Rudram-1 anti-radiation missiles, DRDO-developed loitering munitions, and offensive cyberwarfare teams, India neutralized forward-operating surface-to-air missile systems across Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and penetrated deeper to destroy strategic radar installations in Lahore, a major nerve center for Pakistan’s western air command.
Satellite data confirmed the destruction of three key radar stations, while jamming and spoofing tech crippled Pakistan’s radar cover for over 200 km along the LoC. In just under four hours, India had blinded Pakistan’s first-layer air defense shield, ensuring aerial dominance.
May 10: Strategic Strikes on Airbases, Drone Neutralization
In a desperate and nefarious reaction Pakistan launched a coordinated drone swarm attack—reportedly using Bayraktar TB2 drones supplied by Turkey—on 13 Indian cities, including Pathankot, Bikaner, Gwalior, Amritsar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Srinagar, and Jammu. The drones targeted defense installations, ammunition dumps, and air traffic control towers.
However, India’s integrated air defense systems, including Akash missile batteries, DRDO’s anti-drone systems, and electronic jammers, successfully intercepted and neutralized nearly all incoming UAVs, with no major infrastructure damage or casualties reported. The Indian Air Force confirmed the downing of 27 drones within 30 minutes, marking one of the largest aerial defense operations in Indian history.
After Pakistan’s continuous escalation, the Indian Air Force carried out coordinated precision strikes on 11 Pakistani airbases, targeting UAV control centers, underground hangars, and jet fueling facilities, within just three hours. These targeted military installations include Noor Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skardu, Bholari, and Jacobabad.
The attack targeted major ammunition depots and airbases such as Sargodha and Bholari, where F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets were stationed. As a result, nearly 20% of Pakistan’s air force infrastructure was destroyed. Using air-launched cruise missiles and drone-synchronized targeting, India crippled Pakistan’s ability to launch an organized aerial response—yet strictly limited the engagement to military infrastructure.
Global and Domestic Reactions
Operation Sindoor sent ripples across global diplomatic and strategic circles. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued a strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, reaffirming every nation’s inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Countries like France, the United States, Israel, and Japan extended explicit support to India’s stance, lauding the operation’s precision and restraint. Even traditionally neutral nations acknowledged the legitimacy of India’s response, especially after evidence of civilian-safe targeting emerged. Domestically, there was an unprecedented wave of public support. From opposition leaders to former military chiefs, voices across the spectrum praised the government and armed forces for conducting a technologically advanced, morally justified, and strategically timed operation.
Ceasefire: A Tactical Pause, Not a Compromise
On May 10, 2025, after days of heightened military engagement, a mutual ceasefire was agreed upon between India and Pakistan, following quiet backchannel negotiations facilitated by neutral foreign diplomats. After the heavy damage inflicted by the IAF, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called the Indian DGMO at 2;30 pm IST, requesting a cessation of hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border.
Later on, in a meeting chaired by NSA Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, India decided to accept the ceasefire on three firm conditions:
- Immediate cessation of drone activity from Pakistan’s side
- No further mobilization of air assets near the LoC
- Sustained hotline-level military-to-military communication
The official announcement of the ceasefire came on May 10 from the Indian Ministry of Defence, labeling it a “tactical de-escalation to prevent further civilian harm.” While it restored calm across the frontier, officials clarified it was not an agreement of peace, but a strategic pause, monitored continuously by surveillance assets and diplomatic observers.
Both the countries agreed to stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 1700 hours Indian Standard Time on 10th May 2025.
Ceasefire Violation by Pakistan
Just a couple of hours after the ceasefire, a wave of UAVs and small drones attempted to intrude into Indian civilian and military zones across Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan. All drones were successfully intercepted by Indian air defense systems and jamming units. In response, the Indian Armed Forces issued a strong warning and carried out localized retaliation. Additionally, field commanders have been given full operational authority to respond decisively to any future ceasefire violations.
Operation with Intent: The Final Word
Operation Sindoor will be remembered not just as a military operation, but as a watershed moment in India’s modern counter-terrorism doctrine. Within days, India demonstrated its ability to detect threats, decide swiftly, and deliver justice—crippling cross-border terror camps, eliminating high-value operatives, and neutralizing retaliation plans without widening the scope of war.
The operation was precise, restrained, and deeply strategic. It showcased India’s transformation into a nation that no longer waits to be attacked but preempts threats with legitimacy and accuracy. The successful defense against Pakistan’s Turkish drone swarm and the decision not to escalate further despite provocations reflect a mature, disciplined military posture.
Prime Minister Modi, in his post-operation statement, called this India’s “new normal”—a calibrated shift from restraint to proactive deterrence.
This is New India. We don’t tolerate terror. We don’t hesitate to respond. This is our new normal
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The operation paused not on exhaustion, but on principle, sending a message loud and clear: India will act firmly, legally, and decisively against terror, anywhere, anytime.