In the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, 2025, a calculated military response that marked a significant shift in India's counterterrorism doctrine. This operation involved deep strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

Key Aspects of Operation Sindoor

• Targeting Terror Infrastructure: Indian forces successfully destroyed nine high-value terror launchpads linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen. These locations were identified as key training and operational hubs for attacks against India.
• Breaking Conventional Norms: Operation Sindoor broke conventional norms by targeting locations deep within Pakistan's mainland, including strategic zones like Punjab province and Bahawalpur — areas once considered untouchable. This demonstrated that no part of Pakistan would be considered safe if terror emanates from its soil.
• Doctrinal Shift: The response signaled a doctrinal shift in India's strategy, establishing that state-sponsored terrorism would now invite targeted, visible, and proportional retaliation.
• Precision Strikes: Indian forces, including Rafale jets equipped with SCALP missiles and HAMMER bombs, executed the strikes with pinpoint accuracy. The 23-minute mission exposed significant gaps in Pakistan's air defence network, which was either bypassed or neutralised. Not a single Indian asset was lost in the operation.
• Air Defence Capabilities: The Akashteer Air Defence System played a key role in intercepting hundreds of Pakistani drones and missiles, and is now positioned as a serious global export contender.
• Tri-Service Coordination: The operation showcased seamless tri-service coordination between the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Retaliatory Strikes: In retaliation to Pakistan's drone and missile attacks on May 9–10, India carried out strikes on 11 Pakistani air bases, reportedly destroying 20 percent of Pakistan's air force infrastructure.

PM Modi's Visit to Adampur Airbase

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Adampur Air Base in Jalandhar. During his visit, he interacted with the Air Warriors stationed at the base and celebrated the success of 'Operation Sindoor'. Modi's visit served as a "life-size fact check" of Pakistan's claims that the Adampur air base had been hit, countering their attempts to spread disinformation using doctored images.

Key Highlights from PM Modi's Address

• Praise for the Armed Forces: PM Modi praised the bravery and strength of the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor, emphasizing the perfect coordination between the Army, Navy, Air Force, BSF, and other forces.
• Strong Message to Terror: He stated that Operation Sindoor was not just a military mission but a clear message of India's strong will, policy, and intent. He highlighted the destruction of terrorist camps and the elimination of over 100 terrorists.
• New Benchmark Against Terrorism: PM Modi declared that Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in India's fight against terrorism, setting up a new parameter and a new normal.
• Warning to Pakistan: PM Modi warned Pakistan and Pak-supported terrorists of retaliation for attacks like the one in Pahalgam, calling Operation Sindoor the 'new normal' for strikes against terror bases. He emphasized India's readiness to combat state-sponsored terror.

Aftermath and Ceasefire

Following the intense cross-border drone and missile strikes, India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire agreement to halt military actions with immediate effect. However, PM Modi has stated that India has only paused military actions and that Operation Sindoor remains an active operation to combat terrorist attacks for as long as required.

NDTV's India Matters with Shiv Aroor

NDTV's "India Matters" with Shiv Aroor has been covering the developments surrounding Operation Sindoor, providing in-depth analysis and ground reports on the situation.