Operation Sindoor, launched by the Indian military on May 7, 2025, represents a significant shift in India's approach to dealing with cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The operation, which involved multiple missile attacks targeting sites within Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, was a direct response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali national. India attributed the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan-backed terrorists.
India has long maintained a policy of strategic restraint in the face of provocations from Pakistan-based terror groups. However, Operation Sindoor signals a departure from this approach, indicating a willingness to proactively target terrorist infrastructure across the border. The Indian military stated that the operation aimed to dismantle terror infrastructure and punish the perpetrators and planners of terrorism. Specifically, the strikes targeted organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM). JeM had claimed responsibility for the 2019 Pulwama bombing that killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers.
The operation involved precision strikes, with a focus on minimizing collateral damage. However, Pakistani sources claimed that the Indian strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 31 civilians and injuries to dozens more, alleging that mosques and residential areas were targeted. India has denied these allegations, asserting that the strikes were solely aimed at terrorist infrastructure. According to Indian sources, the strikes across nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir killed over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets involved in past attacks such as the IC814 hijacking and the Pulwama bombing. One of the most significant strikes was the destruction of JeM's headquarters in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of several key figures, including members of Masood Azhar's family.
Pakistan responded to Operation Sindoor with retaliatory measures, claiming to have shot down multiple Indian military planes. Pakistan also allegedly violated the ceasefire agreement that was reached, which led to cross-border firing and drone intrusions. India has stated that it "neutralized" Pakistani attempts to strike military targets with drones and missiles and responded strongly to ceasefire violations. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has stated that it successfully executed its assigned tasks in Operation Sindoor with precision and professionalism and that the operations are still ongoing. The IAF also indicated that it struck Pakistan's air bases, command centers, military infrastructure, and air defense systems across the entire Western Front.
Operation Sindoor has triggered a range of reactions, both domestically and internationally. Some view it as a decisive step towards combating terrorism and ensuring national security. Others have expressed concern about the potential for escalation and the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. Several nations have called for restraint from both sides. The long-term implications of Operation Sindoor on India-Pakistan relations remain to be seen. However, it is clear that the operation has altered the established rules of engagement between the two countries, with India signaling a more assertive and proactive approach to addressing cross-border terrorism.
