India has launched a precision military operation dubbed “Operation Sindoor” in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The operation, which began in the early hours of May 6, involved a coordinated aerial offensive by the Indian Air Force (IAF) targeting nine sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The move marks one of the most significant Indian military actions since the Balakot airstrikes of 2019 and signals a firm policy shift in response to terrorist activity allegedly originating from across the Line of Control (LoC).
According to Indian defense sources, the operation was carefully planned over several days following intelligence assessments that identified key terrorist infrastructure in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot, and Muzaffarabad. These areas are known strongholds of groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which India holds responsible for a string of attacks over the years, including the recent Pahalgam tragedy. High-resolution satellite imagery, real-time drone reconnaissance, and human intelligence were reportedly employed to identify high-value targets.
Operation Sindoor, lasting precisely 23 minutes, saw the deployment of Rafale fighter jets armed with SCALP cruise missiles and AASM Hammer precision-guided bombs. These advanced munitions allowed the IAF to strike deep inside Pakistani territory without the need for close air support or ground troop mobilization. The targets included suspected training camps, weapons depots, communication hubs, and staging areas used to facilitate infiltration into Indian-administered territory. Indian defense analysts described the strikes as “surgical and calibrated,” aimed at neutralizing terrorist assets while avoiding civilian infrastructure.
In an unprecedented show of force coordination, Sukhoi Su-30 MKI jets provided overwatch while Indian early warning systems and aerial refueling platforms supported the operation. Indian authorities confirmed that one Pakistani JF-17 fighter jet was downed by an IAF air-to-air missile after attempting to intercept Indian aircraft over the Pulwama sector. The wreckage of the Pakistani aircraft reportedly landed in Pakistani-administered territory, with radio chatter and satellite data confirming its downing.
Pakistan, however, painted a very different picture. The Pakistan Armed Forces issued a statement claiming that its air defense systems had successfully engaged multiple Indian aircraft, shooting down five jets including at least one Rafale and two Sukhoi Su-30s. The Pakistani military also reported at least eight civilian deaths and a number of injuries in Bahawalpur and Muzaffarabad, where it said the Indian strikes had hit populated areas under the pretext of counterterrorism.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the operation, calling it an unprovoked act of aggression and a violation of international law and Pakistani sovereignty. Islamabad has summoned the Indian High Commissioner and initiated a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council, warning that it reserves the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing. The Pakistani government has also placed its armed forces on high alert and moved fighter squadrons and surface-to-air missile batteries to strategic locations along the LoC and international border.
Meanwhile, maintains that the operation was both proportionate and necessary, conducted under its right to self-defense as recognized by international law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at an emergency security briefing in New Delhi, declared that India had “sent a clear and uncompromising message to those who sponsor terror: there will be consequences.” The Indian government has emphasized that the operation did not target Pakistani military infrastructure, reiterating that the mission’s objective was solely to dismantle the terrorist apparatus threatening Indian lives.
The political and diplomatic ramifications of Operation Sindoor are already reverberating globally. The United States, United Kingdom, and France have issued statements urging restraint, while also acknowledging India’s right to self-defense. China has called for dialogue and de-escalation, though it stopped short of condemning the Indian strikes or Pakistan’s alleged role in harboring terrorists. Russia, traditionally a close defense partner of India, supported New Delhi’s counterterrorism efforts, stating that nations have the right to protect their citizens from cross-border threats.
Security analysts believe the name “Operation Sindoor” was deliberately chosen. In Indian culture, sindoor (vermillion) is a symbol of sacrifice and protection, often applied by married women as a mark of their commitment. The choice of the name is seen as a message that the Pahalgam attack, which killed many civilians including women and children, has drawn a symbolic red line—one that India is now prepared to enforce with military strength.
Back in the Kashmir Valley, the public reaction has been mixed. While there is widespread anger over the Pahalgam attack, many residents express anxiety over potential retaliatory strikes by Pakistan and the possibility of sustained conflict. Schools in the border districts of Rajouri, Poonch, and Baramulla have been temporarily shut, and the Indian Army has increased its presence in sensitive areas. Civil defense drills have been initiated in major towns, and hospitals have been placed on high alert.
International markets and defense analysts are also closely watching for the next move. The operation has added new volatility to the already fragile South Asian security environment. With both countries being nuclear-armed and historically adversarial, calls for diplomacy are growing louder, even as nationalist rhetoric rises on both sides of the border. Global organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have called for an independent investigation into the Pahalgam attack and a multilateral framework to address terrorism in the region.
