“India’s Laxman Rekha against terrorism is crystal clear now. If another terror attack occurs now, India will give a reply, a solid reply. We saw this during the surgical strike. Now, #OperationSindoor is India’s new normal”. –Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 14, 2025, while interacting with Air Force personnel who played a key role in ensuring air defence during Operation Sindoor at the Adampur Air Force station
We missed the opportunity to take back Pak-Occupied-Jammu-Kashmir (POJK) or teaching Pakistan a lesson with another disintegration was the common sentiment in Bharat when the understanding on the stoppage of fire along the borders was declared. The way we responded with swift diplomatic onslaught after the heinous Pahalgam terrorist attack and the way our Armed Forces displayed integration of tri-services and technology in the precise execution of the Operation Sindoor raised the expectations. Therefore, the declaration of ‘understanding’ came from unexpected quarters as a ‘ceasefire’ and created some initial confusion. The joint press conference of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister Modi’s clear and inspirational address to the nation changed the scenario and brought back the triumphant mood. While assessing the objectives and outcome of Operation Sindoor, we must be strategically clear about the way this military operation has diplomatically and nationally redefined the red line on terrorism.
Fifteen days is hardly a time for any country to go to war, as it requires detailed planning and mobilisation, as we had seen during the 1971 war. After the Pahalgam attack by the Pak-sponsored terrorists, India politically responded with a clear message – by downgrading the diplomatic mission of Pakistan, putting the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and suspending the visa facility for Pakistani nationals. Even after the stoppage of firing across the border, we have not made any concession on these fronts.
We had a clear military objective of targeting the terror infrastructure. During the surgical strike in 2016 and Balakot air strikes, we dismantled the terror camps across the Line of Control (LOC) and International Border (IB), respectively. During Operation Sindoor, our Armed Forces jammed the China-made air defence system installed in Pakistan and destroyed the nine terror camps throughout the radicalised neighbour. Even after informing the Pakistani military leadership, with the requisite proofs, the military-ruled country decided to escalate the matter through drone attacks. Their target was civilians and places of worship, to which the Bharatiya Armed Forces responded with a higher escalation. The strike on eleven air bases was a master stroke to show Pakistan the mirror when it comes to military preparedness. Each time, we were one step up on the escalation ladder. Media, especially electronic channels, gave a lot of hype to these achievements, leading to rising expectations. In reality, Bharat never declared war and attained the military objective on day one by hitting the specific targets. When Pakistan decided to accept the International Monetary Fund bailout package, Bharat had no issue accepting peace on our terms. The change is in our war doctrine, with a clear articulation that ‘any terror attack will be construed as an act of war’. The DGMO press conferences and Prime Minister Modi’s speech turned the tables on the information warfare front. “Terror and talks cannot go together… Terror and trade cannot go together…. Water and blood cannot flow together”, was the clear message from PM Modi. We busted Pakistan’s manufactured fake stories through fact-checking and presenting the truth. We tested and showcased the indigenous defence systems, rattling the big players of the military-industrial complex.
The national objective of taking back POJK was not part of this stage of military operation, even though it had been approved through a resolution in the Parliament on February 22, 1991. We require greater preparation, politically, militarily and diplomatically, to attain this national objective.
Bharatiya Armed Forces have won all the battles on the ground and will continue to do so. Diplomatically and in the narrative building in the anarchic and biased world, there will be challenges and pressures for mediation and reinstatement of the IWT. For the Government to be able to manoeuvre during such difficult times, what is required is a strategic approach and responsible behaviour. Careless and casual opposition on the national secutiry issue is another matter of concern that we will have to deal with. To counter the information warfare and internal 0.5 front enemies, every nationalist citizen has a pivotal role to play. The ultimate war against Islamic terrorism, rooted in the idea of Pakistan, has been going on since the idea was floated in the 1930s. To win the ultimate war of Dharma against Adharma, trusting the leadership, assisting the armed forces and denying misuse of democratic space to act against the nation are three critical aspects we need to work on. Meanwhile, celebrate the triumphant journey of our bravehearts who refined the red line on terrorism with the mark of precision and integration.
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