Operation Sindoor: How it has impacted brand Modi
Pratigyan Das is a senior journalist with The Times of India. She has an experience of more than 14 years in journalism. She has a nose for hard news, especially politics, education and issues that concern India and the world. An avid reader and observer, she also looks for the unconventional in the mundane to develop impactful stories. LESS ... MORE
On May 10, India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire, following an agreement between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) from both sides. But before both sides informed their press, US President Donald Trump dropped the bombshell by sharing a tweet. 'I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter,' he posted on social media. Within a minute of Trump's tweet, the White House and Vice President JD Vance also shared Trump's post.
They were joined by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who said, 'Over the past 48 hours, VP Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif', among others. Interestingly, the US secretary of state also claimed that India and Pakistan have agreed to start talks on a 'broad set of issues at a neutral site'.
An hour later, India confirmed the ceasefire. Addressing the media, foreign secretary Vikram Misri stated that Pakistan had initiated the talks on Saturday evening (May 9) by dialling India and that the talks were held directly between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries.
The ministry of Information and Broadcasting followed it up with a series of tweets on its official handle: 'Stoppage of firing and military action between India and Pakistan was worked out directly between the two countries.' 'Pak DGMO initiated the call this afternoon after which discussions took place and understanding reached.' 'No decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place,' the tweets added.
The ceasefire followed three days of confrontation between both the nations with the launch of Operation Sindoor by the Indian armed forces in the early hours of May 7 that targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians on April 22. In retaliation, Pakistan armed forces used heavy artillery, loiter munitions, as well as drones to attack parts of Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan, Indian air defence systems, and harass Indian civilians. India deemed this as an escalatory move and hit Pakistani military infrastructure such as communication centres and air defence radars in key air bases.
Moments after the ceasefire was announced, politicians, experts and common man responded on expected lines. The response from politicians was guarded and cautious, indirectly questioning the role of US intervention in the ceasefire, hardliners and common man, on the other hand, were disappointed with the government's actions. Social media was flooded with messages, trolls and memes. It seemed the euphoric common man, buoyed by India's kinetic action against their arch-rivals, expected a decisive outcome (read getting back PoK) and felt India gave away the advantage to Pakistan by agreeing for a ceasefire. Online trollers went a step ahead and made personal attacks on Misri and his family, who announced the ceasefire on behalf of the government of India.
Some experts also expressed their disappointment over the pause. Prominent among them was foreign affairs analyst Brahma Chellaney. 'Does this mean that Prime Minister Modi has decided not to take 'Operation Sindoor' to its logical conclusion by ending, once and for all, the Pakistani military generals' four-decade-long strategy of waging a 'war of a thousand cuts' against India through terrorist proxies? he posted on X.
In a detailed post issued shortly later, he said, 'Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory has long been an Indian political tradition' and gave examples of India erring in similar fashion against both China and Pakistan over the decades. Chellaney said that India agreed to a ceasefire against Pakistan in 1948 when the Army was marching towards victory. Again, in 1972, at Shimla, India gave away its 1971 'war gains at the negotiating table without securing anything in return from Pakistan.'
A few hours later, memes comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former PM Indira Gandhi did the rounds on social media. 'Modi is not Indira' debate dominated digital platforms. Supporters and critics of Narendra Modi waged another war by coming up with their arguments. Critics of Modi slammed the PM by making it loud and clear: Uncle Sam's intervention has dented Modi's image. Supporters of Modi whispered in private: US managed to arm twist India to agree for a ceasefire.
A few questioned Modi's leadership. It has been observed that wars have significantly impacted the fate of political leaders. Post 1971 war between India and Pakistan, Indira Gandhi, the then PM of India, was hailed by the countrymen for her courageous decision. She was even compared with goddess Durga by opposition leader Atal Behari Vajpayee. Gandhi won the general election basking on the glory of victory over archrival Pakistan.
The Big Q: Did 'Operation Sindoor' dent the image of brand Modi, who is branded as a decisive and bold leader by his party and supporters? The answer is a decisive NO. Here's why:
Firstly, Operation Sindoor has revalidated Modi's image as a strong, bold and decisive leader, who means business and not scared to take that extra risk. He translated his words into action: not once but thrice. His 'ghar mein ghuske marenge' is the new norm, which he has successfully managed to convey to the world and Pakistan.
Secondly, he has convincingly changed India's stance on terrorism. Modi has made it loud and clear that New Delhi will strike Pakistan's terrorist camps at will, if it dares (crossing LoC through surgical strikes in Uri in 2016, entering Pakistan to airstrikes at Balakot in 2019 and now attacking and destroying Pakistan's air bases through drones and missiles).
Thirdly, by announcing that any terror attack against India will be considered as a full-fledged war, Modi has negated the nuclear blackmailing of Pakistan. Islamabad and its army will think twice before going out for any misadventure soon.
Fourthly, by announcing that talks with Pakistan will now only be on terrorism and PoK, Modi has carved a new benchmark on terrorism issue with Islamabad and set up a new parameter in dealing with cross-border terrorism.
Fifthly, by addressing the soldiers from the Adampur Air Force Base in Punjab that Pakistan's media claimed were destroyed by their forces just two days after the ceasefire, Modi not only nailed Pakistan's lies in front of the world but has also proved himself as a strategic leader.
Finally, in a nutshell, it can be said that Modi has set a doctrine on India's security that his successors can't afford to ignore.
But in politics, as they say, nothing is permanent. Only time will assess Modi's legacy. But as of now, brand Modi remains intact.
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