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EYE ON INDIA MAY 15, 2026 | The Indian Eye 8

One Year After Operation Sindoor, India

Sends a Clear Warning to Pakistan

On the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, India used military messaging, diplomatic signalling

and political rhetoric to underline a new doctrine of zero tolerance against cross-border terrorism.

OUR BUREAU Chinese military systems including
ships, aircraft and submarines.
New Delhi
The messaging suggests India
ne year after Operation Sin- increasingly views Pakistan’s military
door reshaped the military posture not in isolation but as part of
Oand political landscape be- a broader regional security challenge
tween India and Pakistan, New Delhi involving China.
is using the anniversary not merely to Yet the anniversary also revealed
commemorate a counter-terror op- another important dimension: In-
eration but to send an unmistakable dia’s attempt to shape international
strategic message across the border: perception.
India’s response doctrine has funda- Officials repeatedly highlighted
mentally changed. that Operation Sindoor exercised
The anniversary events, state- “operational ethics” and restraint to
ments from senior ministers and re- avoid civilian harm. This emphasis
marks by top military commanders appears designed to position India
together reflected a carefully coor- as a responsible power conducting
dinated signal that India now con- counter-terror operations rather
siders cross-border terror infrastruc- than engaging in indiscriminate es-
ture fair game, regardless of location calation.
or depth inside Pakistan and Paki- That distinction matters diplo-
stan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir Former DGMO Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen Zubil A. matically. Since the 2019 Balakot
(PoJK). Minwalla, Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar and Vice Admiral A.N. Pramod during a press confer- airstrikes, India has steadily pushed
External Affairs Minister S. Jais- ence over Operation Sindoor Anniversary, in Jaipur on Thursday (ANI Photo) the argument that states facing
hankar described Operation Sindoor cross-border terrorism possess the
as proof of India’s determination to right to conduct precise retaliatory
ensure accountability for terrorism. actions in recent years. would decide “the conditions, timing action. Operation Sindoor appears to
“A year ago, #OperationSindoor What distinguished the oper- and method” of future action. have expanded that doctrine further.
demonstrated the nation’s resolve to ation was not only the scale of the “We will hit everything,” Ghai Pakistan’s response at the time
defend itself against cross-border strikes but also the doctrine behind stated. “Some of these camps and — involving drone attacks and shell-
terrorism from Pakistan,” Jaishankar them. Indian officials repeatedly launch pads have moved further in ing — led to a four-day military con-
wrote on X. “Under the leadership emphasised that the campaign was depth, where they feel that they will frontation before a ceasefire was
of PM Narendra Modi, India stands “intelligence-led,” “targeted” and be safer. But as I said, no sanctuary reached on May 10, 2025. Indian of-
strong and determined to convey a designed to minimise civilian casu- is safe.” ficials now portray that outcome as
message of zero tolerance for terror- alties while directly attacking terror The remarks were aimed as evidence of military superiority and
ism.” infrastructure. much at deterrence as at domes- strategic preparedness.
The language was significant The anniversary statements sug- tic audiences. India appears intent Minister of State for External
because it reinforced what offi- gest that doctrine is now institution- on demonstrating that retaliatory Affairs Pabitra Margherita said the
cials increasingly describe as India’s alised. strikes are no longer exceptional re- world had witnessed that “those who
“new normal” in dealing with Paki- Former Director General of sponses but part of a standing strate- threaten India’s peace and security
stan-backed terror networks. Military Operations Rajiv Ghai de- gic framework. can never escape the reach of our
Operation Sindoor was launched clared that Indian intelligence agen- At the same time, Indian offi- forces.”
on May 7, 2025, after the Pahalgam cies continue to track terror camps cials also used the anniversary to For domestic audiences, Oper-
terror attack that killed 26 civilians. across the border and warned that highlight concerns over the growing ation Sindoor has become a symbol
India responded with coordinat- “no sanctuary” remains safe. China-Pakistan military relationship. of national resolve and military con-
ed strikes on nine terror launch- “We’ve identified terror launch Ghai noted that nearly 80 per fidence.
pads linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, pads, terror camps, terror infrastruc- cent of Pakistan’s military equip- And for the region, one year
Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mu- ture across the line of control,” Ghai ment is of Chinese origin, while later, the operation marks a turning
jahideen across the Line of Control said at a press conference in Jaipur. Vice Admiral AN Pramod pointed point in the India-Pakistan security
and deeper inside Pakistani territory. “No sanctuary across the line of con- to Beijing’s diplomatic posture after equation — one where deterrence
According to officials, the op- trol is safe.” the Pahalgam attack and increasing is increasingly being defined not by
eration eliminated more than 100 He further invoked Prime Min- Chinese defence exports to Pakistan. restraint alone, but by the willing-
terrorists and marked one of India’s ister Narendra Modi’s formulation “The best of the platforms are ness to strike back with precision and
most extensive cross-border military of a “new normal,” saying India given,” Pramod said, referring to speed.

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