Operation Sindoor: A Look At India's Past Military Operations Against Pakistan And Their Code Names

News18

08-05-2025

Last Updated:
India has conducted 10 major military operations against Pakistan, including Operation Trident (1971), Operation Vijay (1999), Operation Bandar (2019) and Operation Sindoor (2025)
As India enters Day 2 of Operation Sindoor targeting terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), the tri-services mission is the most extensive cross-border precision strike conducted by India since the Balakot airstrikes in 2019.
Operation Sindoor is the direct military action against the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 in which 26 tourists, including a Navy officer and a Nepali, were killed.
The mission was launched in the wee hours of May 7 after a high-security meeting between top military and political leadership.
Nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK have been destroyed in the operation.
This is not the first operation that India has launched against Pakistan and its terror proxies. Both countries have fought several wars and had border skirmishes since 1947.
Let us look at the military operations conducted by India against Pakistan.
Operation Gulmarg (1947): The covert mission was India's first military response against Pakistani aggression that came shortly after Independence in October 1947. India launched military airlift of troops to Srinagar on October 27 of the year. The mission targeted key towns such as Muzaffarabad and Mirpur. The attackers committed widespread atrocities, including massacres, looting, and sexual violence, particularly against non-Muslims. Under the command of Major General Akbar Khan, intruders massacred about 11,000 residents of Baramulla on October 26, 1947, alone, and destroyed the Mohra power station that supplied electricity to Srinagar. Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir sought military help from India, and signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, formally integrating the state into the Indian Union. The conflict lasted until 1948 and ended with a UN-brokered ceasefire in January 1949.
Operation Riddle (1965): It was codenamed by the Indian Navy for its operations during the Indo-Pak War of 1965. As Pakistan violated the Line of Control (LoC) and entered Jammu and Kashmir, India launched this operation, targeting Lahore and Kasur on September 6, 1965. The operation began with Indian forces, primarily the 1st Sikh Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai, being airlifted by Dakota aircraft from Palam airfield in Delhi to Srinagar. Over 800 sorties were flown between October 27 and November 17, 1947, transporting troops, equipment, and supplies to bolster defences. The operation had a crippling effect on the Pakistan military. The operation named 'Riddle' reflects the uncertainty and complexity of the situation.
Operation Ablaze (1965): The defence strategy was launched on a western border by the Indian Army in April 1965, following rising tensions and skirmishes along the India-Pakistan border, particularly in the Rann of Kutch area. The full-fledged war broke out in August of that year. Indian troops successfully engaged and silenced Pakistani forward posts, establishing tactical dominance in parts of Ladakh. This action served as a prelude to the broader conflict that followed. The operation effectively pushed back Pakistan and led to the Tashkent Agreement brokered by the Soviet Union.
Operation Cactus Lily (1971): It was codenamed for the Indian Army's western sector operations during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, which was fought in both the eastern (now Bangladesh) and western (India-Pakistan border) theatres. The Indian Army successfully held key positions in Kashmir, repelled Pakistani attacks in Punjab and Rajasthan, and made some territorial gains across the border. It complemented the more aggressive Operation Cactus in the East, where India supported the Mukti Bahini (Bangladeshi freedom fighters). The war led to the decisive Indian victory and creation of Bangladesh.
Operation Trident (1971): The Indian Navy launched a surprise attack on the Karachi port on December 4, 1971. It was the first time that anti-ship missiles were used in combat in the region. Pakistani fuel reserves and naval assets were heavily damaged. December 4 is now Navy Day. The attack disrupted Pakistan's ability to reinforce its forces in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and boosted Indian morale.
Operation Meghdoot (1984): The military operation was launched by the Indian Army on April 13, 1984, to secure control of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir along the LoC. Named after a mythical cloud messenger in a Sanskrit play, the operation aimed to pre-empt Pakistan's attempts to occupy the strategically vital glacier, which lies at altitudes above 20,000 feet and is often called the 'world's highest battlefield." The IAF transported stores and troops and air-dropped supplies to high-altitude airfields, from where Mi-17, Mi-8, Chetak, and Cheetah helicopters ferried men and material to dizzying heights on the glacier. The operation led to India gaining full control of the Siachen Glacier and maintaining a military presence there ever since. Pakistan launched counter-operations, but failed to dislodge Indian troops.
Operation Vijay (1999): The military operation was launched by the Indian Armed Forces in May-July 1999 to evict Pakistani intruders, including regular army units and mujahideen, from the LoC in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir. It was India's response to Pakistan's covert infiltration, which aimed to seize strategic heights, disrupt the Srinagar-Leh highway, and alter the status quo in Kashmir during the Kargil War. By July 26, 1999, India recaptured nearly all occupied positions, with Pakistani forces withdrawing under international pressure, particularly from the US. The war ended with a unilateral Pakistani retreat announced on July 4, following Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's meeting with President Bill Clinton. India's 527 soldiers were killed and 1,363 wounded, and one prisoner of war (Flight Lieutenant K. Nachiketa). Pakistan's losses are estimated at 700-4,000 (official figures claim 453), though exact numbers remain disputed.
Operation Safed Sagar (1999): The Indian Air Force codenamed the mission in the 1999 Kargil War. It involved a series of airstrikes to throw away Pakistani troops from Indian positions in the Kargil sector. This was the first large-scale use of air power in the region since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. The IAF deployed Mirage-2000 jets to precision bomb enemy posts.
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Operation Parakram (2001-2002): Following the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, India launched Operation Parakram, a massive mobilisation of troops along the Pakistan border. Although it stopped short of full-scale war, the 10-month-long standoff was one of the largest deployments since 1971.
Operation Bandar (2019): During the Balakot air strikes in 2019, Operation Bandar marked the first airstrike across the international border since 1971 and was aimed at a Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility. The military operation was a response to Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF personnel. Mirage 2000 aircraft dropped precision-guided munitions on the targets. The strike marked India's first air incursion into Pakistani territory since 1971. Pakistan responded with an aerial skirmish on February 27, leading to IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's capture and return.
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tags :
india Pakistan relations News18 Explains Operation Sindoor Pakistan terrorism
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 08, 2025, 09:57 IST
News explainers Operation Sindoor: A Look At India's Past Military Operations Against Pakistan And Their Code Names | Explained