Operation Sindoor (Brig Advitya Madan): If one were to summarise what led to Operation Sindoor, it would be this: Pakistan lost its strategic relevance in Kashmir. The region, once riddled with conflict, had found stability. Srinagar saw 93 flights a day, and in April 2025, the Tulip Garden welcomed a record 8.25 lakh visitors—a symbol of peace replacing past unrest. This transformation wasn’t incidental; it was the outcome of bold, deliberate political decisions over six years.
The abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in 2019, followed by the Supreme Court’s affirmation in December 2023, marked Kashmir’s complete constitutional integration with India. For Pakistan, this was a strategic defeat. Losing its narrative grip on Kashmir, Islamabad resorted to asymmetric warfare to remain relevant.
The Pahalgam massacre, which triggered Operation Sindoor, was set against this changing backdrop. Adding to the volatility was the March 2025 hijacking of the Jaffar Express by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)—a domestic crisis Pakistan blamed on India. In a farcical press conference, Pakistan’s DGISPR recycled debunked claims, invoking NSA Ajit Doval’s past lectures and a coerced confession from Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Pakistan’s top brass, including Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, escalated rhetoric—invoking the two-nation theory and communal provocations. These were not just words; they were veiled operational signals. The Pahalgam attack aimed to derail Kashmir’s return to peace, stir communal unrest in India, and salvage Pakistan’s diminishing military prestige—particularly in the wake of internal crises and BLA offensives.
India’s response in Operation Sindoor marked a historic pivot. Unlike previous terror attacks that drew diplomatic or symbolic reactions, this time, India launched a full-spectrum, precision military operation—striking deep into Pakistan’s Punjab for the first time in 54 years.
Cruise missiles like BrahMos and Scalp were deployed, and drone warfare became a defining feature. Pakistan retaliated with ballistic missiles like Fatah-I and Hatf-I, but India’s superior preparedness ensured the destruction of nine confirmed terror hubs, 11 airbases, and nearly 20% of Pakistan’s air assets. Indigenous systems such as Akash and imported platforms like Rafale and the S-400 demonstrated real-world combat efficacy. So overwhelming was the response that Pakistan’s DGMO requested a ceasefire.
Operation Sindoor also exposed Pakistan’s overhyped military alliances. Chinese JF-10 jets, HQ-9 defences, Turkish drones, and PL-15 missiles failed under pressure. India subtly activated the Indus Water Treaty as a strategic lever. Crucially, there was no international backlash—no UN resolutions, no global condemnation. India’s measured approach, targeting at night to minimise civilian harm, and refraining from downing commercial aircraft in Pakistani airspace, projected both restraint and resolve.
Perhaps the most symbolic outcome was the image of Pakistani military officers attending funerals of terrorists—disproving its long-held “non-state actor” defence. Even more telling was the strike near Chaklala’s Nur Khan airbase, close to Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile—sending a powerful message across the strategic community.
China’s shadow loomed large. By arming Pakistan and supporting the CPEC, Beijing continues to use Islamabad as a proxy to distract India from critical maritime theatres like the Malacca Strait. This dual-front threat necessitates a strategic recalibration.
India must now:
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Expand its air force squadrons from 30 to 42.5.
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Accelerate creation of Integrated Theatre Commands for joint-force synergy.
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Review and rectify recruitment gaps caused by the Agniveer scheme and COVID hiatus—addressing a shortfall of nearly 2 lakh soldiers.
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Prioritise deployment of BrahMos-NG, next-gen cruise missiles, and advanced air defence systems.
The defining lesson from Operation Sindoor is clear: India must be ready to fight its own battles—decisively and alone. Let this victory not breed complacency but fuel our journey toward Viksit Bharat 2047—a secure, sovereign, and self-reliant India.
About the Author : Brig Advitya Madan was CO 15 Punjab in Lebanon , Cdr 27 Sector at Chura- Chandpur , Manipur in 2013 and Brig OL of HQ West Comd in 2014.
