Operation Sindoor: India’s Precision Strike Against Terrorism

On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of missile strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This military operation was a direct response to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives, mostly Indian tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmir. The operation marked a significant escalation in India-Pakistan tensions, reflecting India’s evolving strategy to counter cross-border terrorism. This blog provides a comprehensive overview of Operation Sindoor, including its background, execution, outcomes, and implications.

Background: The Pahalgam Attack and Rising Tensions

The Pahalgam attack occurred in Baisaran Valley, Anantnag district, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Militants, later identified by India as linked to the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) through its offshoot The Resistance Front (TRF), killed 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese national. The attackers reportedly segregated male tourists from women, targeting non-Muslims, leaving several Hindu women widowed. The attack, the deadliest in Indian territory since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, shattered the narrative of normalcy in Kashmir and fueled public outrage in India.

India accused Pakistan of harboring and supporting the perpetrators, a charge Pakistan denied, with its defense ministry suggesting the attack was a “false flag operation.” In response, India took immediate diplomatic and economic measures, including suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Wagah-Attari border, downgrading diplomatic ties, and imposing visa restrictions and airspace bans. These actions set the stage for a military response, as India sought to deter further terrorism.

The name “Operation Sindoor” carries deep cultural significance. Sindoor, a red vermilion powder worn by married Hindu women, symbolized the widows left by the Pahalgam attack. The operation’s name underscored India’s resolve to avenge the massacre and deliver justice.



Execution of Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was launched in the early hours of May 7, 2025, and lasted approximately 23-25 minutes. The Indian Armed Forces conducted 14 precision missile strikes targeting nine terrorist sites across Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Pakistan’s Punjab province. The operation was described by the Indian government as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military facilities initially targeted.

Targets and Locations

The strikes hit strategic locations linked to terrorist groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen, which India accused of planning attacks like the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Uri attack, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. The targeted sites included:

  • Pakistan-administered Kashmir: Five sites, including training camps in Muzaffarabad and Kotli. These were identified as key operational hubs for LeT and JeM.

  • Punjab, Pakistan: Four sites in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Shakar Garh, and a village near Sialkot. These strikes marked the first Indian attack on Punjab since the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, targeting major population centers and strategic locations. For instance, Muridke, near Lahore, is home to LeT’s headquarters, while Bahawalpur hosts a significant mosque allegedly linked to terrorist activities.

Indian military officials, including Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, briefed the media, presenting a map of 21 alleged terrorist camps and satellite imagery showing the destruction of targeted sites.

Military Assets and Technology

The operation was executed primarily by the Indian Air Force (IAF) using Rafale aircraft armed with SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer glide bombs. BrahMos cruise missiles and Indo-Israeli SkyStriker loitering munitions, manufactured in Bengaluru, were also deployed, showcasing India’s indigenous defense capabilities. The strikes were conducted without Indian aircraft entering Pakistani airspace, relying on long-range precision weapons.

India’s integrated air defense systems, including the S-400, played a critical role in intercepting Pakistani retaliatory drones and missiles, demonstrating technological superiority. Over 50 Pakistani drones were neutralized in areas like Udhampur, Samba, and Jammu, using L-70 guns, Zu-23mm, Schilka systems, and advanced counter-UAS equipment.



Pakistani Response

Pakistan scrambled jets and claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft (three Rafales, one MiG-29, and one Su-30) and a drone, though India did not confirm these losses. Pakistan reported 31 civilian deaths and 46 injuries, alleging that the strikes hit civilian areas, including mosques in Bahawalpur and Muzaffarabad. Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry described the attacks as “unprovoked,” accusing India of targeting innocent people.

Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation, Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, on May 10, targeting Indian military bases. India claimed these strikes hit civilian areas, including Hindu and Sikh religious sites, prompting further Indian strikes on Pakistani military installations, including air bases like Sargodha and Bholari.

Outcomes of Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor achieved significant military and political objectives, though it came at a cost and sparked debate about its long-term efficacy.

Military Successes

  • Destruction of Terrorist Infrastructure: India claimed to have killed over 100 terrorists, including five high-profile leaders involved in the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama attack. Nine terrorist hubs were destroyed, disrupting LeT and JeM operations.

  • Damage to Pakistani Military Assets: In retaliatory strikes, India targeted Pakistani air bases, destroying several F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets, ammunition depots, and 20% of Pakistan Air Force infrastructure. Over 50 Pakistani personnel, including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf, were killed.

  • Technological Superiority: India’s use of precision munitions and robust air defense systems showcased its military advancements, with no confirmed losses of IAF aircraft.

  • Deterrence: The operation sent a strong message to Pakistan, with Indian leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh emphasizing that “terror and talks cannot go hand in hand.”

Casualties and Losses

  • Indian Side: India reported 18 civilian deaths and 7 security personnel killed, including BSF constable Deepak Chingakham and Agniveer Murali Naik, due to Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control (LoC). Five Indian soldiers were killed during the operation.

  • Pakistani Side: Pakistan reported 31 civilian deaths and 46 injuries from Indian strikes, with an additional 11 military personnel (6 army, 5 air force) killed and 78 wounded during the conflict.

  • Disputed Claims: Pakistan’s claim of downing Indian jets and India’s assertion of 100+ terrorist deaths remain unverified by independent sources, with both sides engaging in misinformation campaigns.


Ceasefire and De-escalation

After four days of intense hostilities, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, 2025, effective from 5:00 PM IST, following hotline talks between their Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs). The ceasefire was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, though Indian officials maintained it was a bilateral agreement. Both sides accused each other of violations post-ceasefire, but by May 12, the situation stabilized, with commercial flights resuming and normalcy returning to border areas.

Strategic and Political Implications

Operation Sindoor marked a shift in India’s counter-terrorism strategy, drawing inspiration from Israel’s “mowing the grass” approach to degrade terrorist capabilities periodically.

Domestic Impact

  • Public Support: The operation unified India, with widespread support from political leaders, including opposition figures like Rahul Gandhi, and the public. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a “Tiranga Yatra” to celebrate the operation’s success, though opposition parties criticized it as politicization.

  • Kashmir’s Challenges: The attack and subsequent security crackdowns, including detentions and home demolitions, deepened alienation in Kashmir. Educational institutes and Srinagar airport were temporarily closed, and Kashmiri students faced harassment elsewhere in India.

  • Modi’s Leadership: Prime Minister Modi framed Operation Sindoor as a “new normal” in India-Pakistan relations, emphasizing zero tolerance for terrorism and linking the Indus Waters Treaty’s suspension to Pakistan’s cessation of cross-border terrorism.

International Response

  • United States: The U.S. supported India’s right to counter terrorism but urged de-escalation. President Trump offered mediation, while Vice President JD Vance called the conflict “none of our business.”

  • United Nations and Others: UN Secretary-General António Guterres and countries like Japan, the UK, and Saudi Arabia called for restraint and dialogue. China expressed concern but avoided direct involvement.

  • Pakistan’s Isolation: India briefed G20 nations and UN Security Council members (excluding Pakistan and China) on the operation, presenting evidence of Pakistan’s alleged terrorism support, further isolating Islamabad diplomatically.

Critiques and Challenges

Some analysts, like those in the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung, labeled Operation Sindoor a “disaster” for India, citing heavy resistance and losses, though these claims are contested. Pakistan’s military emerged more popular domestically, with analyst Umair Jamal arguing that the conflict unified the country.

The operation’s long-term success depends on whether it deters future attacks. Critics argue that targeting terrorist infrastructure without addressing Pakistan’s military-terrorist nexus may yield temporary results, as groups like LeT can reconstitute. India’s decision to strike deep into Punjab and suspend the Indus Waters Treaty risks further escalation, with Pakistan threatening to exit the 1972 Simla Agreement.

Broader Implications for India-Pakistan Relations

Operation Sindoor highlighted the fragility of India-Pakistan relations, driven by the unresolved Kashmir conflict since 1947. The operation’s escalation to drone battles and strikes on military targets marked a new phase in their rivalry, with both sides leveraging advanced technology.

  • Nuclear Risks: As nuclear-armed neighbors, any miscalculation could lead to catastrophic consequences. India’s restraint in avoiding mass civilian casualties and nuclear-related targets prevented a broader conflict, but future crises may test these thresholds.

  • Water as a Weapon: The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and reports of India manipulating dam releases (e.g., flooding from Uri Dam, drying of Chenab River) underscore water’s role as a geopolitical tool, further straining relations.

  • Need for Diplomacy: While Operation Sindoor restored deterrence, analysts like Praveen Donthi argue that military action alone is insufficient. India must combine coercive measures (e.g., treaty suspension) with diplomacy and international pressure to curb Pakistan’s terrorism support.