Vinod Bhat
On April 22, terror struck Pahalgam. Pakistan-backed attackers stormed a village, asked people their religion, and killed them, resulting in 26 deaths. A clear attempt to incite communal violence, this marked a shift, from cross-border attacks to dividing India from within. In response, India launched Operation SINDOOR to destroy the terror bases behind the attack. But Pakistan hit back harder. Over the next week, it used drones and shelling to target religious sites. The Shambhu Temple in Jammu, the Gurdwara in Poonch, and Christian convents were attacked. These were not random strikes. They were part of a plan to break India’s unity.
During the first press briefing on May 7, India clarified its response as focused, measured and non-escalatory. It was specifically mentioned that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted. It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, across multiple press briefings on May 8, 9, and 10, laid bare India’s plan of action and the full extent of Pakistan’s designs.
Being in the digital age, warfare transcends traditional battlegrounds. Alongside military operations, a fierce information war has been ongoing online. Following the commencement of Operation SINDOOR, India found itself targeted by an aggressive campaign launched by Pakistan- full of lies and misinformation. The aim was to distort the truth, mislead the global public and reclaim lost narrative ground through a storm of misinformation. However, India has been proactively responding and dissipating misinformation with facts, transparency, showcasing strong digital vigilance. Rather than reacting emotionally, a composed and methodical approach to information warfare was undertaken:
Highlighting operational success: Operation SINDOOR’s effectiveness was communicated with precision, focusing on strategic outcomes rather than sensationalism.
Discrediting sources: Indian authorities have exposed the manipulation tactics used by Pakistan-based accounts, many of which are now under scrutiny by international social media platforms.
Promoting media literacy: Campaigns to educate citizens on how to identify fake news have helped create a more resilient digital environment.
Pakistan Punished Through Military and Non-Military Means
Operation SINDOOR was a significant demonstration of India’s military and strategic power, executed through a combination of military and non-military means. This multi-dimensional operation effectively neutralized terrorist threats, deterred Pakistani aggression, and firmly enforced India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. The operation maintained strategic restraint while gaining international support.
Demonstrating leadership at a global level:
In the wake of this situation, a moment of national crisis demanded not just resolve but remarkable leadership. Rising to this challenge was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose decisive role in Operation SINDOOR marked one of India’s boldest military responses in recent history. Despite being overseas on a pre-scheduled diplomatic visit, PM Modi swiftly assumed command, orchestrating a response that balanced strategic restraint with assertive action. He displayed remarkable restraint under immense pressure to react quickly and ensured that every step, from suspending the Indus Waters Treaty to military action, was well-planned and precisely timed.
Strategic planning and targeted response underlined the operation’s framework. Rather than rushing into an emotional or reactive strike, Prime Minister Modi created strategic unpredictability to prevent Pakistan or its terror proxies from preparing for retaliation. The strikes were meticulously focused on terror infrastructure, and this clarity of objective was appreciated across party lines, including by opposition leader P. Chidambaram, who praised PM Modi for targeting only high-value terror installations, avoiding civilian areas entirely.
Throughout the developments with Pakistan, the focused objective against terrorism remained unchanged. PM Modi stayed focused on delivering a firm and clear response. His consistent efforts against terrorism, viewed as a global threat helped India garner widespread international support. Under his leadership, India firmly established the principle that terrorism and its sponsors will be treated alike.
With a measured, yet powerful response, it was ensured that no harm was inflicted upon on Pakistani civilians, despite repeated provocations from Pakistan. India’s military actions were limited to terror camps and specific military facilities aiding terrorism. This careful targeting showed both India’s capability and its commitment to responsible warfare.
Addressing long-standing concerns, PM Modi’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty was a historic move, not only harming Pakistan’s interests but also benefiting India. He established a new national security doctrine: any future terror attack will be treated as an act of war. This eliminated the false distinction between terrorists and their state sponsors.
What Operation SINDOOR Achieved
The results of Operation SINDOOR speak volumes about its impact:
Conclusion:
India’s response to the Pahalgam attack stood firmly on legal and moral grounds. History will remember it as a principled and calibrated retaliation, shaped by leadership, ethics, and strategic precision. Operation SINDOOR has reshaped both the geopolitical and strategic landscape of South Asia. It was not merely a military campaign, but a multidimensional assertion of India’s sovereignty, resolve, and global standing. Under Prime Minister Modi’s decisive leadership, India demonstrated a new paradigm, one that blends restraint with strength, and precision with purpose. By targeting terror networks and their state sponsors with unprecedented clarity, India sent an unambiguous message: terrorism will be met with a swift and proportionate response, irrespective of borders or diplomatic complexities.
