India’s political environment has always been polarised, yet the Indian Military has maintained unquestioned loyalty across the spectrum of polity and population. In today’s complex political landscape, the military finds itself at the centre of political posturing, which is not a healthy sign but unavoidable. Fortunately, in the eyes of the population, the Indian Armed Forces continue to command greater respect and belief than other verticals, including politicians.

With an important political figure making absurd negative assertions about the success of “Operation Sindoor" and questioning the relevance of the 12-lakh-strong Army, it is crucial to reinforce what the Indian population and the world know, even if some partisans within the country try to ignore it. Distressingly, this statement came on Vijay Diwas, the very day on which the Indian Military achieved a resounding 14-day blitzkrieg success, creating a new country, capturing 93,000 prisoners of war – a record since the World Wars – and securing a place of honour in the international community despite opposition from the most powerful country at that time. Before and since 1971, the Indian Armed Forces have consistently addressed political failures in national security, both externally and internally, despite the denial of necessary military equipment or delays in required upgrades.

Recent discussions of Operation Sindoor highlight this concerning pattern, with detractors characterising India’s coordinated military action as either an emotional response or a complete tactical failure. The political figure in question claimed puzzlingly that India had lost the combat operation in the first two days of Operation Sindoor and suggested that the 12-lakh-strong Army is unnecessary in modern warfare. These misrepresentations fundamentally distort what actually occurred and undermine the dedication and expertise of India’s Armed Forces, which conducted an exceptionally complex multi-domain military campaign.

The civilian attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, resulting in 26 deaths, was more than an isolated terrorist incident; it was a calculated provocation testing India’s willingness to respond. Decision-makers faced a pivotal choice: launch a measured response, as characterised by past dossiers, or make clear that terrorism originating across the border would trigger substantial military retaliation.

Operation Sindoor embodied this second approach; a measured yet forceful military action designed to destroy terrorist capabilities while demonstrating India’s determination to hold state-supported terrorism accountable. The operation took its name from the vermillion marking symbolising sacred commitment in Hindu culture, representing an oath to the victims and their loved ones that accountability would be relentlessly pursued.

The most common criticism of Operation Sindoor claims that Indian forces experienced defeat during the operation’s initial days. This argument falls apart when examined against the mission’s genuine goals and results showcased by the Pakistanis themselves and global commercial satellites and news networks.

Before dawn on May 7, the Indian Armed Forces executed military operations with specific instructions: eliminate identified high-priority terrorist locations using precise strikes that avoided civilian harm. Planners designated nine main targets, including the Jaish-e-Mohammed facility in Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba command centre in Muridke, both operating openly for many years.

The operation utilised a complex multi-layered strategy drawing on India’s range of precision weapons. Cruise missiles enabled Indian aircraft to strike targets while remaining beyond Pakistani air defence range. For objectives needing tactical flexibility, the IAF used guided weapons that could adjust course during flight and minimise unintended damage.

The active combat portion spanned roughly 23 minutes from initial weapon deployment to operational closure on targets at Bahawalpur and Muridke by the air force, while the Indian Army continued pounding the remaining objectives for longer periods. The Indian Air Force successfully manoeuvred through Pakistan’s comprehensive air defence network using advanced electronic countermeasures, including radar disruption and decoy drones that overwhelmed enemy detection systems.

Analysis after the strikes verified that all nine main targets experienced substantial or total destruction. The Bahawalpur compound was completely demolished. Comparable devastation occurred at Muridke and the remaining seven locations.

Measured by standard military benchmarks—target elimination, mission success percentage, aircraft attrition, civilian harm—the May 7 operations accomplished their designated purpose. Labelling a mission that achieved complete kinetic success as a “defeat" demonstrates either a profound misunderstanding of military doctrine or deliberate factual manipulation for political gain. The mission assigned by the highest........

© News18