What Has India Achieved Through Operation Sindoor?
In response to the brutal killing of Indian civilians in Pahalgam on April 22, the Indian government launched a large-scale military campaign titled “Operation Sindoor.” This action targeted terrorist camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), achieving significant strategic and military objectives while firmly conveying India’s hardened stance on terrorism to the global community. The operation triggered notable shifts in regional security dynamics.
According to Indian security agencies, the military destroyed nine terrorist camps with precision strikes. These facilities, operated by groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, served as training and planning centers for attacks against India. Among those killed were over 100 terrorists, including masterminds of the 1999 Indian Airlines IC-814 hijacking and individuals involved in the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Following these strikes, Pakistan escalated the situation by launching missile and drone attacks targeting Indian border areas in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. India responded forcefully. From May 7 to May 10, both countries engaged in cross-border drone attacks, missile launches, and shelling along the Line of Control, nearly tipping into open warfare. On May 10, both sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire across land, air, and sea operations. This four-day standoff visibly demonstrated how India responds to terrorism, according to government officials.
Extending beyond PoK, Indian forces conducted strikes deep inside Pakistan’s territory, several hundred kilometers inland. Notably, Indian warplanes for the first time targeted terror infrastructure in sensitive regions such as Bahawalpur in Punjab Province—locations previously avoided even by U.S. drone operations. Through these actions, India unequivocally established that it can strike anywhere terrorism emerges on Pakistani soil.
“Operation Sindoor” marked a fundamental shift in India’s policy approach. It clearly outlined that countries promoting terrorism as state policy would face immediate and direct consequences. This operation rejected the traditional distinction between terrorists and their enablers, holding the Pakistani government directly accountable. “In response to Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism, India has established a ‘new normal,’” government sources stated. They added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had instructed the armed forces to respond to any provocation by the Pakistani military with greater strength and intensity.
Indian forces successfully neutralized Chinese-made air defense systems and completed their mission in just 23 minutes using Rafale fighter jets equipped with SCALP missiles and HAMMER bombs, avoiding civilian casualties. The operation exposed key vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s air defense preparedness, while India showcased its own sophisticated and layered aerial defense capabilities. India’s Akashteer air defense system intercepted hundreds of Pakistani drones and missiles, reinforcing its reliability and boosting its profile in global defense markets. Consistent with its zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, India focused solely on terror infrastructure, exercising caution to prevent civilian and military casualties.
On the nights of May 9 and 10, Indian forces carried out three-hour-long airstrikes targeting 11 Pakistani Air Force bases. As a result, nearly 20 percent of Pakistan's air force infrastructure sustained damage. Key bases such as Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, and Jacobabad were affected. At the Bholari airbase, over 50 personnel, including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf and four air force staff, were killed, and several fighter jets were destroyed. The success of Operation Sindoor reflected extraordinary coordination among the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, demonstrating India’s growing capabilities in joint warfare strategy.
Through this operation, India sent a clear message to the global community: it will not wait for external approval to protect its citizens. Operation Sindoor served as a stern warning that terrorism will not be tolerated and that those behind it can no longer hide. Unlike previous conflicts where the global community urged restraint, this time world leaders extended support to India. Diplomatic sentiment also shifted in India’s favor. For the first time, the global perspective on India-Pakistan relations moved away from the Kashmir narrative to focus squarely on terrorism. India’s targeted strikes on terror infrastructure were widely recognized as a lawful and controlled act of self-defense.
Operation Sindoor not only avenged the injustice inflicted upon Indian citizens but also laid down new rules of engagement for future threats in the region.