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India has carried out three high-profile surgical strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), each in direct response to brutal terror attacks on Indian soil.
These operations- Uri (2016), Balakot (2019), and Operation Sindoor (2025)- represent an evolving doctrine in India’s military and strategic posture.
A Timeline Of Surgical Precision
1. Uri Surgical Strike – 2016
- Trigger Incident:
On 18 September 2016, four heavily armed terrorists attacked an Indian Army base in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir, resulting in the death of 19 soldiers. It was one of the deadliest attacks on Indian forces in decades.
- Response Timeline:
Just 11 days later, on 28 September, the Indian Army launched a cross-border surgical strike.
- Operation Details:
Indian Army commandos crossed the Line of Control (LoC) at multiple points.
They targeted and destroyed seven terrorist launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The operation was conducted at night and involved close-quarter engagements.
- Impact & Significance:
An estimated 35–40 terrorists were killed, according to Indian sources.
The strike was the first publicly acknowledged cross-border military operation by India.
Marked a major shift from strategic restraint to proactive retaliation.
Pakistan denied the event, calling it ‘routine cross-border firing’.
2. Balakot Air Strike – 2019
- Trigger Incident:
On 14 February 2019, a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir.
- Response Timeline:
On 26 February 2019, exactly 12 days later, the Indian Air Force responded with a major air strike.
- Operation Details:
Mirage-2000 fighter jets flew deep into Pakistani airspace.
Bombed a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Balakot, located in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Used precision-guided munitions to strike targets in the early hours of the morning.
- Impact & Significance:
India claimed a ‘large number’ of terrorists were neutralised, though no official casualty figure was released.
It was the first air strike across the International Border since the 1971 war.
The strike showcased India’s ability to project air power and strike deep into enemy territory.
Pakistan responded on 27 February by launching air raids and capturing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who India later returned under international pressure.
3. Operation Sindoor – 2025
- Trigger Incident:
On 22 April 2025, terrorists attacked Hindu pilgrims in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, killing 26 civilians.
Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives reportedly carried out the attack.
- Response Timeline:
On 6 May 2025, 15 days after the attack, India launched its most advanced and remote operation to date.
- Operation Details:
India launched precision missile and drone strikes from its own territory, targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The operation utilised stand-off weapons, such as long-range cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- Impact & Significance:
Over 50 terrorists and handlers were reportedly killed, according to Indian defence sources.
No Indian troops crossed the border, marking a shift towards unmanned, tech-enabled warfare.
India relied solely on remote precision strikes for this cross-border mission for the first time.
Pakistan claimed civilian casualties and responded with heavy shelling along the LoC.
Strategic Evolution
India’s surgical strike doctrine has clearly evolved- from covert ground raids to overt air strikes, and now to unmanned precision operations.
This progression reflects a calculated shift towards leveraging advanced military technology to strike deep without risking personnel.
Each operation has sent a stronger geopolitical signal, reshaping regional deterrence and asserting India’s right to defend itself.
These strikes underscore New Delhi’s commitment to punishing cross-border terrorism with increasing sophistication and strategic clarity.
Also Read: PM Modi Oversees Precision Strikes In ‘Operation Sindoor’ Targeting Terror Camps
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