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Modi's India hits back: How Operation Sindoor is the unveiling of a strategic doctrine
Unlike in the past, this time India didn't appeal for international mediation or issue a diplomatic demarche. Instead, India launched such a calibrated military action that defence experts around the world have given a resounding applause read more
Operation Sindoor sent a compelling message to Pakistan: this is not the India of 2008, when they could launch the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks (in which over 170 people were killed and 300 injured) and get away with nuclear blackmail. This is a different India, one that is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the most decisive leader in independent India's history and one of the foremost strategists on the global stage today. This India hits back.
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Unlike in the past, this time India didn't appeal for international mediation or issue a diplomatic demarche. Instead, India launched such a calibrated military action that defence experts around the world have given it a resounding applause.
The renowned American defence expert John Spencer wrote in an article in the Small Wars Journal: 'India has become a master of the physics of lethality. The United States can learn from their success and model some of their changes for its own needs.'
Austrian combat aviation analyst and author Tom Cooper also described India's response as a 'clear-cut victory'. Cooper asserted that Pakistan's decision to ask for a ceasefire was a direct result of India's superior military response. He credited India's success to its advanced firepower and its multi-layered air defence systems.
Japanese strategic expert Satoru Nagao praised India's Operation Sindoor, calling it a 'responsible and proper' response against state-sponsored terrorism. He called out Pakistan for supporting terrorism and called it a risky strategy. He added that 'Operation Sindoor is a very good, responsible, proper response against state-sponsored terrorism'.
India was attacked on April 22, 2025, when 26 Indian civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, were massacred in Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility. As is the case with all terrorist groups which target India from their bases in Pakistan, this group is also backed by that country's notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
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On May 7, in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, a swift and precisely calibrated military campaign. The Indian Air Force struck nine terrorist infrastructure targets inside Pakistan, including the headquarters and operational hubs of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The targets included key terror training camps and hideouts in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad, Sarjal, Sialkot, Bhimber and elsewhere.
When Pakistan retaliated with a massive drone swarm across India's western states, India's multi-layered air defence network—domestically built and augmented by Russian and Israeli systems—neutralised nearly all of them.
In retaliation for Pakistan's attack, the Indian armed forces then launched the second phase of Operation Sindoor on May 10. India escalated with additional strikes on six Pakistani military airbases and UAV coordination hubs and broke the spine of Pakistan's air defence network. The targeted air bases were Chaklala in Rawalpindi, Murid in Chakwal, Rafiqui in Shorkot, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian. This time, key military structures were targeted, and the damage inflicted on Pakistan was so severe that within hours, it forced Islamabad to beg for peace.
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A temporary halt in firing was reached. India did not call it a ceasefire. The Indian military referred to it as a 'stoppage of firing'—a deliberate choice of words that reinforced its strategic control of the situation.
Not unexpectedly, PM Modi's critics argued that India should not have agreed to the ceasefire and that India should have gone further and inflicted more damage on Pakistan, even perhaps facilitating a regime change. However, they seemed to miss the point that Operation Sindoor was not about causing lethal damage to Pakistan or wanting a regime change. It was a limited war executed for specific objectives and succeeded by having the desired effect.
Prime Minister Modi's message went across loud and clear: terror attacks launched from Pakistani soil will now be treated as acts of war. As he said, 'Terror and talks can't go together. Water and blood can't flow together.' More than a retaliation, this was the unveiling of a strategic doctrine.
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An unmistakable feature of this new doctrine was that India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. Rather, India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail.
Another very significant aspect of Operation Sindoor should not be overlooked. It validated PM Modi's national defence doctrine built around efficient domestic industrial strength. Thus, it was much more than a swift and precise military response to another cross-border terrorist attack.
After becoming prime minister in 2014, Modi launched the 'Make in India' initiative, which has led to the reforming of its defence sector. The focus has been on domestic production, self-reliance, and strategic speed. A decade later, that investment paid off in the remarkable success of Operation Sindoor. India used such domestically developed systems like BrahMos missiles, Akashteer air defence units and loitering munitions to strike hardened targets across the border with precision, speed, and overwhelming effect. Pakistani defences—built largely around older Chinese systems—were powerless to detect, deter, or respond to the strikes.
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India's defence procurement has shifted significantly, with around 65 per cent of defence equipment now being manufactured domestically. This represents a substantial move away from the reliance on imports, which earlier accounted for 65-70 per cent of India's defence needs. This shift is driven by the 'Make in India' initiative and a robust defence industrial base, including public sector units, licensed companies, and micro, small, and medium enterprises.
India's execution of Operation Sindoor and the Pakistani request for a ceasefire were a clear strategic victory for India. However, it would be a mistake to think we will no longer face challenges from Pakistan. The ISI is the fountainhead of terror, and all terrorist organisations like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen have an umbilical relationship with it. The ISI will do whatever it takes to rebuild any parts of the terror infrastructure which were destroyed by India.
In this background, the Trump administration's unmistakable cosying up to Pakistan, along with the loan sanctioned to Pakistan by the IMF (where the US has a decisive say), are signs that we cannot lower our guard. Rather, we need to remain on high alert, and PM Modi is doing just that. That is why he has not declared Operation Sindoor to be completely over, as he declared, 'This is not a ceasefire but a halt in operations, as per India's strategic judgement.'
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Summing up, what exists now is a sensitive halt in operations, a strategic hold following a rare and unambiguous military victory. A clear message has undoubtedly gone across to Pakistan—if you provoke us again, we will strike you again—and we will do so in a decisive, precise and telling manner. This is the hallmark of India's new security doctrine. It remains to be seen whether it makes Pakistan's ISI see the light of reason. My guess is that it will not, though I would be only too happy if I am proved wrong.
The writer is a retired Indian diplomat and had previously served as Consul General in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
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Hans India
21 minutes ago
- Hans India
Europe can't show any flexibility on countering terrorism: Denmark's former Ambassador backs India's stance
Denmark, which will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union this year, continues to back India's Operation Sindoor and New Delhi's call for a global, united effort to combat the threat of terrorism. Speaking exclusively to IANS, Freddy Svane, the former Danish Ambassador to India, asserted that there can be no flexibility on the European side as far as countering terrorism is concerned. Lauding India's Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach mission, the seasoned diplomat also backed calls to put Pakistan back on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Excerpts: IANS: India is sending a very strong global message against terrorism with the visit of all-party delegations to various countries, one of which was also in Copenhagen till Saturday. How do you see this entire exercise? Freddy Svane: I think it's very important that the message that you are going to spread is listened to, heard and action taken on it. Therefore, I am pleased, having also served as Ambassador to India for more than 10 years, that India has on the backdrop of this really, really sad and deadly, inhumane Pahalgam incident, now stands up and speaks against terror. We all need to really move away from words towards actions. Therefore, the decision of the Government of India, of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to send a group of parliamentarians across the globe to speak about how we jointly fight terror is so important and very well received, also here in Denmark. IANS: Do you think that India has emerged as a stronger nation during Operation Sindoor? Freddy Svane: I think so. Even now, I asked some of the visiting Indian parliamentarians here that is that a new thing? As I have never in my life experienced that India would be sending such all-party delegations across the globe to really voice its concerns about terror and the impact of terror. I was told there was some similar thing done decades back. 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Sadly, with this incident, the time is really ripe for a conscious joint and coordinated response to terror, and thereby also calling out Pakistan. IANS: Do you think it is high time to put Pakistan back on the FATF grey list? Freddy Svane: I think so. Terror doesn't come out of the blue. It's something that has to be financed, structured and so forth. So, it's a long, concerted action that lies behind all this terror. And therefore, you need to do whatever you can globally, also regionally, to secure that we don't have financing that will flow into the streams of terror. It has to stop. Yes, Pakistan has to be put where it belongs. So, they have to be put on that list, no doubt about that. IANS: You first met Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. India has grown tremendously under his leadership over the last decade or so... Freddy Svane: That's true. I have seen India growing. I have a huge passion for India, and so will be known by many. I was the first European Ambassador when I was in service, really to meet the honourable Prime Minister today. I met him back in May 2011 in Gujarat, and we had a very nice and long interaction. That, of course, grew over the years. When I came back as Ambassador from a second tenure in 2019, we continued, and we developed the Green Strategic Partnership. So, I think we have a very, very close and good relationship. I have seen India growing, becoming much more outward-looking. India has its own role. It's a country, a nation, which is really trying to define its own trajectory towards what is called 'Viksit Bharat' and I am a strong believer myself in 'Viksit Bharat', meaning that, of course, we have to work together and that's what Denmark and India have been doing. Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, India has grown and will continue to grow, no doubt about that. We need a strong India, no doubt about that either. IANS: PM Modi has established himself as a very strong global leader over the years and has proved it yet again during Operation Sindoor... Freddy Svane: Yes, he has. In my interaction with the visiting parliamentary delegation, I also highlighted that when India had the G20 presidency, it rose as a global power by calling the Global South, and by also inviting the African Union into the G20. All that is a combination, the agenda of India and Prime Minister Modi to be a global player that will have a role to secure that the world will be a better, greener and more sustainable place for all of us in the future. Obviously, Prime Minister Modi, by his resolute action through Operation Sindoor, has really shown that India has drawn new red lines and that is the new normal. You should not really be in any doubt that India is a power that is ready, willing to act whenever it's needed. That's a new normal here, thanks to Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. IANS: Do you think Operation Sindoor has boosted PM Modi's image further and added to the numerous achievements of his government in the last 11 very successful years? Freddy Svane: Of course, the fact that all party delegations are sent to various countries in various parts of the world just to speak about Operation Sindoor and the atrocities proves it. It shows that it is time now to stand up against terror and the way in which Pakistan, almost throughout its lifetime, has instigated terror attacks. India has shown that it has grown and is a global player, a very, very important player and that India can take action. You need a strong leader like Prime Minister Modi who can steer that kind of direction and make it clear that I am the man and I am the true defender of India. 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I think, at least nowadays, and given whatever happened in India and given the atrocities and inhuman behaviour, there can be no flexibility on the European side as to how we have to fight terror. Terror is a global menace that we have to really fight, and whatever tool we have, we should deploy. I do hope that, with this tour of Indian parliamentary groups, there is a common understanding and a kind of awareness that we have to move away from words to actions. Of course, I will be following a little bit closely what will come out of all these visits to various countries - will there be more coordinated, more joint efforts to fight terror, or will we just see another range of words and no actions? I think the answer lies very much in the way in which India will take these visits and say we have sent all party delegations to these countries, important countries across the globe, and now there is a common sense that we have to do and deal with terror and let's propose some actions. So, I hope that India will come up with that kind of action programme, saying this is what we need to do, and hopefully, countries not just in Europe but also other places on this planet will join in and say terror is a global menace and we have to fight it. Terror will happen as long as we are not united. Now we seem to be united, thanks to India and Prime Minister Modi. IANS: Pakistan is left with very few 'all-weather friends', is it not high time that these countries too realise that they are backing a terror state? Freddy Svane: Yeah, but I'm not surprised that some countries have placed themselves in that camp. I think we all have to get together and find and define the common position because terror, regardless of how we define what terror is, and what kind of components will go into terror, cannot be in any country, any population, or any people's interests to face the menace of terror. Therefore, we have to stand together. I hope that the diplomatic outreach will at least secure that more and more countries will join the camp of India and say, enough is enough. Let's now move from words, diplomatically framed words, to actions. Therefore, as I said, I hope, as a former Ambassador to India, that India and Prime Minister Modi will stand up and say this is the catalogue of actions we need to take. IANS: What was your first reaction on hearing about the extradition of 2008 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India, who was also prosecuted for providing material support for a terror attack in Denmark? Freddy Svane: I was so relieved. I think it shows that justice will prevail at some point in time, and those who are committing terror and terror-related activities will be brought to justice. There should be no safe haven for terrorists. When I saw the extradition of Rana to India, I felt relieved because India has been pushing for that for many, many years, and finally, the extradition happened. I do hope that it sends a very strong message across that you can't hide, use whatever kind of institutional tool that you might access to prevent yourself from being brought to justice. So, it was a great, great, great achievement, I will say! IANS: Denmark is also the only country in the world with which India has a Green Strategic Partnership. How do you see this bilateral relationship progressing? Freddy Svane: I don't see any limits to it. If I may say so. It all started with my first meeting with the honourable Chief Minister, now Prime Minister, back in May 2011 in Gujarat. The two of us discussed how we could work together at that time. I was the Danish Ambassador, but we had a kind of shared vision, a mission to move towards a greener and sustainable development. In that context, we developed this kind of idea. We had, in fact, in 2012-13 held a number of seminars, workshops in Gujarat's Gandhinagar, where we put focus on renewables, wind, water and so forth. 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India Today
23 minutes ago
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Even Pak did it: Congress reiterates demand for Parliament session on Op Sindoor
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NDTV
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Rahul Subramaniam: If you're planning to apply to US colleges and pursue an F1 visa, my best advice is to start early and stay organized. The journey is much more than just paperwork, it's about telling your unique story and showing why you're a great fit for the university and the country. Focus on building a well-rounded profile: strong academics matter, but so do your passions, projects, and the impact you want to make. Be prepared for the visa process. Also, remember that the US government has had social media checks as part of visa screening since 2019, so keeping your digital presence professional and consistent is important. Lastly, don't hesitate to seek guidance from mentors or experts who understand both admissions and visa intricacies. With thoughtful preparation, clarity on your goals, and a genuine application, you can navigate this process successfully and set yourself up for an exciting chapter ahead. 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