Operation Sindoor

What is Operation Sindoor?

• Operation Sindoor is a meticulously planned military offensive targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). It wasn't just a big strike against terror infrastructure.
• It was the biggest anti-terror operation inside Pakistan, and the biggest military strike since the 1971 War.
• The immediate reason cited for the operation was to “deliver justice” to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed multiple security personnel.
• However, India framed Operation Sindoor not as a one-off reaction but as a response to decades of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, dating back to the 2001 Indian Parliament attack.
• India shifted the causal chain from the Pahalgam attack to a long-term pattern of cross-border terrorism, signaling that no major act of terror will be seen in isolation.
  • Terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba — both UN-designated entities — were highlighted as persistent actors behind these attacks.
• India described Operation Sindoor as:
  • “Focused”
  • “Measured”
  • “Non-escalatory”
• This signals to:
  • Pakistan: Future escalation could involve conventional military targets.
  • International Community: India is acting against terrorism, not provoking war.

Doctrine of Sub-Conventional Targeting

• India maintained its doctrine of limited strikes — targeting terror infrastructure, not the Pakistan military.
• Similar to the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, Operation Sindoor:
  • Avoided escalation into full-scale war.
  • Sent a signal that terrorism will be met with proportional and precise force.
• Escalation Control in Practice The Ministry of Defence stated:
  “No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted.”
• This indicates an effort to retain strategic restraint while demonstrating operational resolve.

Sites Chosen by India (Terror Hotspots)

The operation targeted nine terror camps located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and mainland Pakistan.

Precision Weapons Likely Used in the Operation

India has not officially disclosed the exact weapons used in Operation Sindoor. However, based on known Indian capabilities and official hints at "niche-technology weapons," the following advanced systems are most likely involved:

• Operation Ablaze (1965): Pre-emptive mobilisation by the Indian Army in April 1965 after the Rann of Kutch clashes; demonstrated India's readiness before the August war.
• Operation Riddle (1965): India’s military response to Pakistan’s infiltrations (Ops Gibraltar and Grand Slam) in J&K; led to full-scale war and ended with the Tashkent Agreement.
• Operation Cactus Lily (1971): Major Indian offensive in East Pakistan; involved Meghna River crossing, aiding rapid advance to Dhaka and aiding Bangladesh’s liberation.
• Operation Trident (1971): Indian Navy’s successful missile strike on Karachi harbour on Dec 4; caused major damage to Pakistan’s navy and fuel reserves.
• Operation Python (1971): Follow-up naval strike on Karachi post-Trident; further damaged Pakistan’s naval assets and disrupted logistics.
• Operation Meghdoot (1984): India’s pre-emptive occupation of Siachen Glacier; secured key passes like Bilafond La and Sia La to deny Pakistan control.
• Operation Vijay (1999): Military operation during the Kargil War to evict Pakistani intruders from Indian territory along the LoC; restored status quo.
• Operation Safed Sagar (1999): IAF’s air campaign during Kargil conflict; targeted enemy positions at high altitude to assist ground operations.
• 2016 Surgical Strikes: Cross-LoC strike by Indian Special Forces targeting terror launch pads in PoK post-Uri attack; marked shift in India’s response doctrine.
• Operation Bandar (2019): IAF air strike on JeM camp in Balakot post-Pulwama attack; first cross-LoC air raid since 1971, led to India-Pak aerial face-off.
• Operation Sindoor (2025): Precision air strikes by India on 21 terror camps across PoK and Pakistan in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack; showcased tech-driven retaliation.