India Redefines Retaliation With Operation Sindoor; Strikes Deep Inside Pakistan

Just past midnight on 7 May, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, its most decisive military response yet to cross-border terrorism.

The trigger was the brutal Pahalgam massacre, where terrorists executed tourists in cold blood.

India responded with coordinated strikes deep inside Pakistan, hitting high-value terror infrastructure.

The strikes were swift, precise, and multi-domain. Stand-off weapons, including air-launched cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and long-range drones, hit nine sites.

These included Muridke and Bahawalpur – known hubs of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Unlike the 2016 Uri or 2019 Balakot strikes, ‘Operation Sindoor’ was not symbolic. It aimed to degrade terror capabilities and impose material costs.

India escalated deliberately and came out on top.

PM Modi Sets The Tone

“There is no place in Pakistan where terrorists can breathe in peace,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on 13 May.

At an Air Force base, he warned of even stronger responses.

In talks with US Vice President JD Vance, PM Modi reiterated India’s resolve.

India struck at the ideological heart of Pakistan’s terror network. Besides Muridke and Bahawalpur, strikes hit Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and a Hizbul Mujahideen base.

Striking With Tactical Surprise

Despite prior warnings, India achieved tactical surprise. It delivered a ‘bol ke mara, jo kaha so kiya’ moment – a public promise fulfilled.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force acted in full coordination. This joint effort showed the interoperability India has long pursued.

A Shift In Doctrine

India has moved from restraint to routine retaliation.

PM Modi declared Operation Sindoor as a ‘new benchmark’ and a ‘new normal’. Nuclear threats, he said, no longer deter India.

Consultations focused not on if to strike, but when and where.

Defence insiders confirmed the shift. As analyst Arzan Tarapore wrote in War on the Rocks, India now seeks attrition over persuasion. It aims to degrade the enemy’s capacity, not change its intent.

Psychological & Material Impact

Operation Sindoor hit more than just buildings. It shattered the long-standing sense of impunity.

Terrorist groups now operate in fear, always watching for the next strike.

They must divert funds to rebuild, reducing their offensive strength.

Training, recruiting, and logistics have become liabilities. Safe havens like Muridke and Bahawalpur are no longer safe.

Leadership decapitation, including a near-miss on Masood Azhar and the death of his family members, has spread mistrust in terror ranks. Even their military backers appear less reliable.

New Strategic Game Begins

India has started a cat-and-mouse game. Terrorists must now stay hidden during peace and crisis alike. Like Israel’s enemies after repeated strikes, they are forced into defence.

India’s strategy mirrors Israel’s ‘mowing the grass’ doctrine. The goal is not to end conflict but to degrade capacity regularly and buy periods of calm.

India recognises that terror from Pakistan is a permanent reality. The aim is to manage, not resolve.

“If India can degrade both terrorists and their army backers,” Tarapore notes, “Future attacks may be less deadly and less frequent.”

The Road Ahead

Terrorists will adapt and hide. India’s intelligence and strike capabilities must evolve. Future operations may prove harder.

Modi’s bold strategy has raised public expectations. Managing nationalism during future crises will be critical.

Finally, India must use diplomacy, economic levers, and global alliances alongside military force. Without this, Operation Sindoor risks becoming a tool of war, not a path to peace.

Also Read: ‘Asking A Thief To Probe His Own Crime’: Misri Slams Pakistan’s Joint Probe Call During MP Briefing