Latest news with #AadilMir
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
07-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Why Operation Sindoor is unlike any other strikes against Pakistan
Be it 2016 in Uri or 2019 in Balakot, there has been no shortage of responses from India to terror attacks from Pakistan. However, Operation Sindoor is different from any strikes India has previously carried out. But why is this? And what do experts say? Let's take a closer look read more Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addresses a press conference regarding 'Operation Sindoor', in New Delhi. PTI India has carried out surgical strikes against Pakistan before. Be it 2016 in Uri or 2019 in Balakot, there has been no shortage of responses from India to attacks from Pakistan. However, Operation Sindoor is unlike any other previous strikes against Pakistan. But why is this? What makes Operation Sindoor different? Let's take a closer look: Wide-ranging response The Times of India noted that the 2019 Balakot strikes and the 2016 Uri attacks were essentially a limited action. However, as NDTV noted, Operation Sindoor is a wide-ranging response. The strike hit nine separate locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) including Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum, and Chakwal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India hit Pakistan with 24 missile strikes – the most it has ever launched in a single-day action. Compare this to Balakot when India hit just one target – a Jaish-E-Mohammed terror training camp in Khyber Pakhtunwa province in Pakistan. Sindoor also struck deep into Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied territory. In this screenshot from @MEAIndia via Youtube on May 7, 2025, Visual of an area in Kotli Abbas being targeted as part of 'Operation Sindoor', displayed during a press conference, in New Delhi. PTI 'The sheer scale of militant loss sent a strong message to terrorist networks and their handlers. India now reserves the right to strike pre-emptively, and no location is beyond reach,' a government source told the outlet. The idea behind Operation Sindoor was to shake the foundation of terror coming from Pakistan. 'Over 70 militants were reported killed, and more than 60 others were injured during the coordinated assault,' the source added. Moneycontrol noted that New Delhi has widened its range of possible targets in Pakistan and Pakistani-occupied territory – letting Islamabad know that potentially no location is safe. As security analyst Aadil Mir told ANI, 'India has crossed two significant thresholds… striking multiple sites and targeting Pakistan's heartland. This goes far beyond 2019.' Weapons systems used As per NDTV, all three services – Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force – were involved in Operation Sindoor. A number of weapons including SCALP (Storm Shadow) missiles which have a range of over 250 kilometres, Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (Hammer) bombs precision bombs and loitering munitions were used. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Air-launched long-range Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missile, manufactured by MBDA, pictured at the 54th International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 20, 2023. File Image/Reuters 'Within less than an hour, all missiles had struck their designated targets. The strikes were synchronised to avoid detection and maximise the element of surprise. Real-time footage from UAVs confirmed the destruction of target facilities. The decision to target deep into Pakistani-administered territory was a departure from prior doctrine and marked a new level of strategic assertiveness,' a government source said. New red line? Moneycontrol noted that the operation is an indication that India is shifting its red line against Pakistan. A piece in The Times of India stated that the strikes had put Pakistan on notice about the escalating price of terror from across the border. In this screenshot from @MEAIndia via Youtube on May 7, 2025, Visual of an area in Sarjal being targeted as part of 'Operation Sindoor', displayed during a press conference, in New Delhi. PTI It noted that India also focussed on terror infrastructure rather than military installations – thus avoiding increasing tensions further. The outlet quoted Brigadier Hemant Mahajan (Retd) as saying, 'This was a world-class, precision strike. The Armed Forces must be complimented. We hit them when they least expected it - and hit them hard.' Different name, different mindset As per Indian Express, the defence establishment has also indicated a change in mindset with its choice of the name of the operation. Rather than seek to play up India's military firepower, the establishment instead decided to honour the Pahalgam terror attack victims. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi addresses a press conference regarding 'Operation Sindoor', in New Delhi. PTI Sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose the name of the operation. India previously used the following names – Operation Riddle, Operation Ablaze, Operation Cactus-Lily, Operation Trident, Operation Python, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Vijay, Operation Safed Sagar, and Operation Bandar during conflicts with Pakistan. The choice was a tribute to those who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam attack which left 26 dead. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor vs 2019 Balakot airstrikes vs 2016 surgical strikes: How India's latest attack marks a strategic shift
Live Events JeM headquarters at Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur LeT's main base at Markaz Taiba in Muridke Hizbul Mujahideen-linked sites in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Sialkot, Barnala, and Tehra Kalan (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a bold and unprecedented move, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor , executing precise missile strikes on nine terrorist sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was carried out in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives — including 25 Indian civilians and one Nepali national — two weeks Operation Sindoor marks India's most extensive cross-border military action in five decades, surpassing the scale and depth of both the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes Here are the key differences:Strikes on multiple high-value targets across a wider area: In 2019, India attacked a single site. This time, it targeted nine terror penetration into Pakistani territory: According to official briefings, India targeted terror infrastructure almost 100 km beyond the Line of execution and advanced weaponry: The Indian armed forces deployed loitering munitions, precision-guided missiles, and adopted a tri-service strategy involving the Army, Air Force, and analyst Aadil Mir told ANI, 'India crossed two significant thresholds — hitting multiple sites and targeting Pakistan's heartland. This goes far beyond 2019.'Key terror infrastructure targeted included:The name 'Sindoor' — referring to the vermillion worn by Hindu married women — is also a symbolic tribute to the widows of the Pahalgam Sindoor showcased India's ability to conduct rapid, simultaneous strikes using standoff weapons, thereby minimizing the risk of airspace also clearly communicated its limited intent to the international Brigadier Hemant Mahajan praised the mission, stating: 'A world-class precision strike. We hit them when they least expected — and hit them hard.'
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor vs Balakot: India raises the stakes with deep strikes in Pakistan
Out of the nine targets chosen by India, four were in Pakistan and the remaining five were in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Why it matters: A quantum leap from Balakot Hit more targets (nine vs one in Balakot) Penetrated deeper into Pakistani territory (striking Bahawalpur and Muridke), and Employed sophisticated precision munitions, including loitering drones. Security analyst Aadil Mir told ANI: 'India has crossed two significant thresholds… striking multiple sites and targeting Pakistan's heartland. This goes far beyond 2019.' Zoom in: The strikes and what they hit Execution & technology: The strikes were carried out entirely from Indian airspace using a mix of: Loitering munitions (which hover before attacking), Precision-guided missiles, and Air Force, Navy, and Army strike coordination. Targets included: Markaz Subhan Allah (Bahawalpur) - JeM HQ Markaz Taiba (Muridke) - LeT's main base Syedna Bilal & Shwawai Nalla camps (Muzaffarabad) - JeM & LeT hubs Makaz Raheel Shahid & Mehmoona Joya (Kotli & Sialkot) - Hizbul Mujahideen sites Other logistical, training and recruitment centers in Barnala and Tehra Kalan Indian military sources confirmed the intent was to 'decapitate' leadership and logistics across JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen infrastructure. The symbolism Sindoor What they're saying Following Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army said on 'X': "Justice is Served." Defence ministry: 'Focused, measured, and non-escalatory… no Pakistani military sites were targeted.' Defence minister Rajnath Singh: 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai.' Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (Retd): 'Nine terrorist sites and their infrastructure were targeted… A fitting response under PM Modi's direction to inflict unimaginable punishment.' US President Donald Trump said at an unrelated White House interaction with news reporters: 'We just heard about it as we were walking through the doors of the Oval ... They've been fighting for a long time. ... I just hope it ends very quickly.' Between the lines: This was not Balakot 2.0 - it's a new doctrine More importantly, Sindoor introduced: Wider spatial escalation - hitting targets near Lahore (Muridke) and Sialkot. Higher operational tempo - All nine strikes occurred within minutes. Zero intrusion strategy - India used standoff weapons, minimizing airspace breach and escalation risk. The big picture: Why now, and what changed? What's next: Escalation or deterrence? Ceasefire violations: India's stance: The takeaway: A new red line has been drawn Operation Sindoor Raised the cost of cross-border terrorism, Expanded its military playbook, and Sent a clear message: No more sanctuaries, even in Pakistan's heartland. India also showed its restraint and maturity by not hitting military targets, avoiding a full-scale escalation - even as it delivered a strategic blow to terror infrastructure. As Brigadier Hemant Mahajan (Retd) put it: "This was a world-class, precision strike. The Armed Forces must be complimented. We hit them when they least expected it - and hit them hard." In a bold and coordinated military action, the Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor - a high-precision missile strike targeting nine terror camps deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack , which killed 25 Indian civilians and a Nepali national just two weeks targets included JeM's Bahawalpur HQ, LeT's base in Muridke, and several key infrastructure hubs of Hizbul Mujahideen, marking India's most comprehensive cross-border military strike in over 50 previous cross-border strikes - the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes - were relatively limited in scope and geography. In contrast, Operation Sindoor:The operation's name,, is derived from the red vermillion Hindu women wear to signify marriage — a nod to the Pahalgam widows, including one whose Navy officer husband was gunned down in front of both Balakot and Sindoor were retaliatory anti-terror operations:Balakot (2019): Targeted a single JeM training camp in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2025): Targeted multiple, geographically dispersed terror sites, including deep inside Pakistan's Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 - where civilians, including security families, were massacred - generated national outrage and international Narendra Modi, in an April 29 security briefing, gave the armed forces "complete operational freedom". This green greenlight, combined with high-quality intelligence and technological advances, led to the execution of a strike unprecedented since the 1971 then moved swiftly to brief world powers, including the US, UK, Russia, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, explaining the non-escalatory nature of the Ajit Doval spoke directly to US NSA and secretary of state Marco Rubio, laying out evidence of Pakistan-based terror links to after the strikes, Pakistan's army opened artillery fire along the LoC in Jammu's Bhimber Gali area, killing three Indian civilians. India's army said it was responding in a 'calibrated manner.'New Delhi is projecting this as a deterrence-by-punishment strategy - precise, contained, and legally justified. 'We only hit known terror camps,' the Indian embassy in New York India has:(With inputs from agencies)
