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Op Sindoor: PM Modi's tour, new FTA, civil drills… the smokescreen India created to stun Pakistan
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri with Indian Army's Col Sofiya Qureshi and Indian Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh during a press conference regarding Operation Sindoor, in New Delhi on May 7, 2025. PTI
Ahead of Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, India employed a carefully crafted deception to conceal its true intentions. In the lead-up to the covert Operation Sindoor, multiple events were strategically scheduled, diverting international and domestic attention away from any potential military movements.
One such event was the inauguration of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025. This high-profile gathering brought together major Indian film stars, global industry leaders and key figures from the media and entertainment sectors.
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The presence of prominent personalities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business magnates like Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani provided an ideal opportunity to create a façade of peaceful diplomatic engagement.
Furthermore, the simultaneous announcement of a nationwide civil defence mock drill on May 7, 2025, added another layer of complexity to the deception. As the country prepared for this large-scale exercise, which involved coordinated participation from various civic groups and institutions, it gave the appearance of heightened domestic readiness in the face of security threats.
The drill, meant to focus on emergency preparedness, included scenarios such as air-raid sirens and citywide blackouts, further contributing to the sense of heightened national security.
However, this was also a diversionary tactic, subtly positioning the public and international community to believe that the country was focussed on internal defence, rather than preparing for any potential external military action.
This well-executed distraction, paired with other events like the India-UK Free Trade Agreement and the launch of the Vizhinjam Port, created a perfect smokescreen, allowing India to execute Operation Sindoor with minimal external scrutiny or intervention
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WAVES Summit in Mumbai
The inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 was held from May 1–4 at Mumbai's Jio World Convention Centre, aiming to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment and digital innovation. Organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the theme 'Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,' the event saw participation from major Indian film stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth and Deepika Padukone, as well as global industry leaders including Netflix's Ted Sarandos.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit, emphasising the role of content and creativity in India's economic growth. Reliance Industries chairperson Mukesh Ambani projected the industry's growth potential to $100 billion, while over Rs250 crore in deals were secured during the event. The summit highlighted Indian cinema's soft power globally and fostered cross-border collaboration and investment.
2. Port launch in Thiruvananthapuram
On May 2, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially commissioned the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, marking India's first deep-sea transshipment port. Developed under a public-private partnership between the Adani Group and the Kerala government, the port was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs8,867 crore.
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Strategically located just 10 nautical miles from key international shipping routes, Vizhinjam boasts a natural depth of 24 metres, enabling it to accommodate ultra-large cargo vessels without extensive dredging. The port aims to reduce India's reliance on foreign transshipment hubs like Colombo and Singapore potentially retaining significant revenue within the country.
During the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the port's role in enhancing economic stability for Kerala and India and emphasised its significance in positioning the nation as a global maritime leader.
3. Announcement of mock drill
On May 7, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced plans to launch a nationwide civil defence mock drill across 244 districts, including 27 locations in Assam such as Guwahati. This large-scale exercise is being conducted to evaluate emergency preparedness in light of recent security concerns, particularly following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The drill, the official statements said, involved coordinated participation from civil defence volunteers, home guards, NCC cadets and students and aims to simulate hostile scenarios requiring swift civilian and institutional responses. Activities include the sounding of air-raid sirens—long sirens to indicate alerts and short ones for all-clear—along with citywide blackout simulations, mock evacuations and protection drills for critical infrastructure.
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Residents were advised to remain indoors during the exercise, switch off electrical and gas appliances during the blackout period, and ensure the safety of children and pets. Authorities also urged the public not to panic and to refrain from spreading misinformation on social media.
In Assam and other participating regions, the drill was meant to serve not only as a preparedness measure but also as a means to strengthen public awareness and resilience in times of national emergency.
4. India-UK Free Trade Agreement
On May 6, 2025, India and the United Kingdom concluded a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a significant milestone in their bilateral relations. This comprehensive deal, finalised after over three years of negotiations, aims to enhance trade by reducing tariffs and expanding market access for both nations.
Under the agreement, India will reduce tariffs on 90 per cent of British goods, including a phased reduction of whisky tariffs from 150 per cent to 40 per cent over a decade.
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Similarly, car tariffs will decrease to 10 per cent from over 100 per cent, benefiting British exporters. In return, 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK, such as textiles, food and jewellery, will become duty-free providing a substantial boost to India's export sector.
The FTA also includes provisions for services trade and mobility. A notable feature is the exemption of Indian temporary workers in the UK from national insurance contributions for up to three years, aligning with similar agreements the UK has with other countries. Additionally, the deal facilitates visa access for Indian professionals, including musicians, chefs and yoga instructors. Both Prime Ministers, Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer, have hailed the agreement as ambitious and mutually beneficial, with expectations to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion ($34 billion) annually by 2040.
The agreement is pending ratification by both governments and is anticipated to come into effect within the next 12 months
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5. PM Modi at ABP Network India@2047 Summit
On May 6, 2025, Prime Minister Modi addressed the ABP Network India@2047 Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Emphasising the nation's goal of becoming a developed country by 2047, he highlighted India's transition from a GDP-centric approach to one focused on the 'Gross Empowerment of People' (GEP), highlighting the importance of inclusive growth and citizen-centric governance.
He also announced the finalisation of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, describing it as a historic milestone that will enhance economic activity and create new opportunities for Indian businesses and MSMEs.
The prime minister criticised previous administrations for delaying crucial reforms due to political considerations, citing examples such as the implementation of the One Rank One Pension scheme, the abolition of Triple Talaq and amendments to the Waqf Act. PM Modi asserted that his government prioritised national interest over vote bank politics, leading to significant policy changes.
Addressing water resource management, he mentioned the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that India's water resources will now be utilised for national benefit. Highlighting India's strides in self-reliance, Modi noted the country's emergence as a global leader in defence manufacturing, with exports reaching over 100 countries, and emphasised the success of the Digital India initiative in transforming the nation into a hub of innovation and technological advancement.
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6. India-Nordic Summit
The 3rd India-Nordic Summit is scheduled to take place in Oslo, Norway, on May 15–16, 2025. Prime Minister Modi was earlier scheduled to attend this high-level gathering, which brings together leaders from all five Nordic countries—Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland—to strengthen cooperation across a range of strategic areas. However, in view of Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Modi deferred his visit to Croatia, Netherlands and Norway.
The agenda of the summit was to focus on enhancing collaboration in trade, innovation, green energy, climate change and the blue economy. Geopolitical issues, including global peace and security and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, were also expected to be key topics of discussion.
This summit builds on the momentum of previous India-Nordic engagements, such as the Green Strategic Partnership launched with Denmark in 2020, which has expanded cooperation in various fields and facilitated Danish investments in India's green transition. Additionally, the summit is anticipated to further strengthen India's bilateral relations with Norway, focussing on trade, renewable energy and maritime technologies aligning with both nations' sustainability goals.
The India-Nordic Summit serves as a significant platform for India to deepen its engagement with the Nordic region, fostering partnerships that address critical global challenges and promote sustainable development.
7. Notam for pre-planned exercise in Rajasthan
The Indian Air Force (IAF) issued a Notice to Airmen (Notam) for a significant two-day aerial exercise along the Indo-Pakistan border in Rajasthan. Scheduled from 3:30 p,m on May 7 to 9,30 pm on May 8, 2025, the exercise will involve extensive airspace restrictions over the region. The IAF describes this as a routine, pre-planned training operation aimed at assessing combat readiness and coordination under simulated hostile conditions.
The drills will feature a comprehensive deployment of India's airpower including frontline fighter jets such as Rafales, Mirage 2000s and Sukhoi-30 MKIs, as well as transport aircraft, mid-air refuellers, airborne warning and control systems (AWACS), helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.
These operations will be conducted from various airbases across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. This exercise coincides with nationwide civil defence mock drills on May 7, reflecting heightened security measures following the recent Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which resulted in the loss of 26 lives.
8. 'Strategic silence' by MEA and Ministry of Defence Forces since Pahalgam terror attack
Since the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives, India's political leadership—including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh—has publicly condemned the incident, vowing a decisive response.
At the international level, India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Yojna Patel also raised the issue strongly in the United Nations, denouncing cross-border terrorism and calling for global accountability.
However, despite these high-level statements, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Defence have maintained what is being interpreted as a 'strategic silence' in operational terms.
This restraint has been particularly evident in the MEA's non-engagement with Pakistan's recent 'closed-door briefing' at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where Islamabad reportedly attempted to internationalise the Kashmir issue in light of the attack.
The MEA has neither issued a formal response nor directly challenged the Pakistani narrative in this forum, signalling a deliberate choice to avoid giving the provocation further global traction. Analysts suggest this measured silence may be part of a calibrated strategy, possibly tied to upcoming diplomatic moves or military responses being kept under wraps.
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