The operation, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, sends a clear and unequivocal message that cross-border terrorism will not be tolerated and those responsible—whether state or non-state actors—will face tangible costs. The long-standing paradigm of nuclear coercion has been dismantled and replaced with assertiveness and clarity.

India’s recent precision strikes on Pakistan on April 26, 2025, under the codename Operation Sindoor, have sent an unequivocal message: there will be a cost for any misadventure against India. Just days before the strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing an election rally in Bihar, had clearly stated, “We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. We will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers beyond their imagination.” This operation demonstrated the resolve behind those words. Unlike previous responses, the Indian armed forces not only targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) but also struck deep inside Pakistan’s Punjab province — all while carefully avoiding direct strikes on the Pakistan Army. Officially defined as a “focused, measured, and non-escalatory” action, the operation signalled a new threshold in India’s counter-terrorism strategy.

This calibrated action conveyed a sharp warning: persistent support for terrorism could bring the Pakistani military establishment into India’s crosshairs next. By blending measured restraint with unparalleled precision, Operation Sindoorsignalled a recalibrated strategy of credible deterrence and strategic assertiveness.

Operation Sindoor: A Defining Moment in India’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy

Following the strike, India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that the operation targeted terrorist infrastructure responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, based on credible intelligence. The strikes were conducted carefully to avoid civilian and military casualties. Reaffirming India’s stance, the statement declared, “India will take all necessary measures to defend its citizens against cross-border terrorism.” New Delhi also urged Pakistan to dismantle terror networks and warned of further action if provocations persist.

The April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians (mostly Hindu tourists), prompted the operation. People of Jammu and Kashmir, weary of decades of violence and bloodshed, were striving for normalcy and economic stability. The attack not only killed innocents but also........

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