On April 22, 2025, 26 people were killed in cold blood in Pahalgam, Kashmir by Pakistan-backed terrorists. This led India to launch an unprecedented and highly precise military operation against nine targets. The main terrorist infrastructure used to launch attacks on India has been dismantled. Unlike India, which has avoided causing civilian casualties, Pakistan has escalated matters by targeting civilians and military sites. These attempts failed, and India retaliated against high-value military facilities supporting terrorist networks in Pakistan.
After India achieved its goals within four days, it accepted Pakistan’s ceasefire call through existing military channels. And no amount of misinformation or subsequent attempts at glamor can change the fact that India has prevailed militarily while demonstrating a level of controlled warfare rarely seen. History is full of examples of protracted wars that lacked exit strategies, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, now in its fifth year, as well as the protracted conflicts in Vietnam and Afghanistan, which saw decades of attrition, regional instability, and economic turmoil. Even the ongoing conflicts in West Asia continue to incur high costs, not only for the warring parties, but also for the global community as a whole. In contrast, Sindoor avoided turning into an endless war, thanks to the purposeful determination of the Indian leadership and military professionalism.
The retaliation that followed the Pahalgam attack was clear. India struck deep into Pakistani territory in a coordinated operation, targeting nine high-value terrorist launch pads across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and dismantling the centers of Lashkar-e-Taiba, JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen. From PoJK to mainland locations in Punjab (Pakistan) such as Sialkot and Bahawalpur, the strikes have proven their reach and accuracy. Vital installations, including the Noor Khan and Sargodha air bases, were hit, indicating that no safe haven for terrorists in Pakistan is beyond reach. The scale and accuracy of these strikes was unprecedented. Eliminating more than 100 terrorists, including Yousef Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudassir Ahmed.
Operation Sindoor was also called the Pakistani nuclear hoax. Unlike conflicts such as Ukraine or Gaza, where damage is widespread, this operation inflicted significant damage on Pakistan’s terrorism and military infrastructure, while ensuring minimal local impact on the Indian side. As the world has seen, India’s integrated air command and control system, especially the indigenous Akashtar system, has successfully countered Pakistani drones and missiles, and protected key installations.
There has been minimal economic disruption in India. This disparity, in terms of imposing heavy costs on the adversary and mitigating the impact on its territory, reflects careful planning, technology and execution on the Indian side. Bypassing and jamming Pakistani air defense systems, the Indian Air Force completed the mission in 23 minutes, using Rafale jets, SCALP missiles and HAMMER bombs.
On May 10, India expanded the scope of engagement, targeting military installations and weakening vital capabilities. India struck 11 Pakistani military air bases in a single operation, despite the country being a nuclear-armed state, and reportedly destroyed 20% of Pakistani air force assets.
The sindoor process demonstrated interconnectedness, atmanirbharta, and localization. The Navy maintained sea pressure, while the Army and Air Force coordinated strikes on terrorism and military infrastructure. The operation underlined the long-awaited reforms implemented by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, such as the establishment of the Office of the Chief of Defense Staff in 2019 and the shift towards indigenous defense production. Defense production rose from $46,429 Crore in 2014-15 to $1,54,000 crore in 2024-25, with over 65% produced domestically now. Policies such as the drone import ban and the PLI scheme have boosted domestic research and development. Today, 75% of procurement is local, and 25% of defense R&D projects are allocated to the private sector. About 90% of the ammunition has been localized, and it is expected to be fully localized by 2027-2028. Systems like BrahMos, Akash, Akashteer, Tejas and anti-drone platforms have enhanced multi-domain capability.
Sindor also presented the role of drones and AI-driven systems as force multipliers. Now broader reforms of the past decade, including foreign direct investment liberalization and defense corridors, are supporting India’s long-term strategic independence.
Political direction remains an essential element in military success. While military courage is vital, leadership vision shapes results. Over the past decade, India has moved from restraint to a willingness to use military options in response to terrorism.
The leadership has demonstrated a capacity to take calculated risks and a public commitment to targeting terrorists wherever they operate. The armed forces were given full operational freedom, albeit with a judicial order to avoid civilian casualties. This civilized spirit, of respecting the lives of civilians even in an adversary’s territory, is alien to Pakistan, which uses terrorism as an asymmetric means of waging an unconventional war against India.
Under Prime Minister Modi, decisions – from suspension of the Indus Water Treaty to calculated strikes – were well thought out and coordinated with the military leadership. The mandate has been consistent and precise: to target terrorists and their support systems wherever they are.
India’s experience with Pakistan suggests that deterrence by force has a greater impact than diplomatic protest and dossier preparation as we saw in the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008. Operation Sindoor clearly established a new normal in this regard, while signaling that strikes may extend beyond Hizb ut-Tahrir in Kashmir into the heart of Pakistan.
Operation Sindor reflected a nation-wide approach, integrating the armed forces, government and private industry, and setting new standards for civil-military tandem. It is worth noting that startups and private companies have contributed to drone and counter-drone systems, supported by the iDEX framework. Their role is set to grow in the coming years. Among the lessons learned was improved coordination between agencies. ISRO provided satellite surveillance, while efforts were made to counter misinformation and manage public communications.
The Indian Army’s Integrated Defense Staff ensured joint procurement and operations, enabling all three services to operate on the basis of joint intelligence. Civil administration was aligned with military planning, including preparedness measures and public communications. The government also engaged opposition parties by sending all party delegations around the world to build international support against terrorism, reflecting the importance of political unity on the larger challenges facing the nation.
Sujan Chinoy is Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyzes and was a member of the all-party delegation to the UAE and West Africa in the context of Operation Sindoor. The opinions expressed are personal
