When the enemy crossed a line in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, and stained it with the blood of innocents, India crossed the threshold of its patience. Operation Sindoor was not merely a military response — it was a resolute message crafted with precision, purpose, and clarity. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre, this was not just retaliation; it was a bold redefinition of deterrence, doctrine, and national resolve.
Named after the sacred vermillion symbolising the dignity and sacrifice of our mothers, sisters, and daughters, Operation Sindoor spoke in the language of firepower. It was a thunderous declaration that India will neither forget nor forgive.
More than a counterstrike, Operation Sindoor marked a watershed moment in India's military posture — crippling Pakistan's air bases, dismantling cross-border terror infrastructure, and showcasing the 21st-century war-fighting capabilities of our country.
Hitting Terror Nerve Centres
Operation Sindoor marked a decisive shift in India's military doctrine, as it struck deep into Pakistan's heartland — including the Punjab province and Bahawalpur — that was once considered beyond reach, even for US drones.
The high-precision military offensive successfully destroyed nine major terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), targeting Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen facilities. Among the nine, three terror launchpads — Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Kotli — stood out for their strategic importance and symbolic value.
Topping the target list was the terror launchpad of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province. It has long served as the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the terror outfit behind the 2019 Pulwama attack. Intelligence inputs indicated a major revival of activities at the site, with training of new recruits and coordination of infiltration routes to India.
Also hit was the terror launchpad in Muridke, located near Lahore. Historically, this is regarded as the epicenter of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Operational since the late 1990s, the sprawling terror launchpad has been serving as a training and indoctrination facility for jihad, with deep links to cross-border terror operations in Kashmir.
Closer to the Line of Control (LoC), Kotli was identified as a key launchpad for fidayeen units infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir. Situated in PoJK, Kotli has remained under the protective cover of Pakistani military.
Satellite images confirm that the targeted terror launchpads were destroyed. Over 100 terrorists were killed in the operation, including several top jihadist commanders linked to the IC-814 hijacking and the Pulwama attack. Among them were Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudassir Ahmad — figures long on India’s most-wanted list.
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Crippling Pakistan's Military Air Infra
What surprised the world was not just India's strikes on terror camps, but how it managed to cripple Pakistan's military air infrastructure without even crossing its radar limits.
India launched precision strikes on 11 Pakistani airbases, destroying 20 per cent of its air force assets in a single, decisive blow. Loitering munitions were used with devastating precision, homing in on and destroying key targets, including enemy radar and missile systems.
At the heart of this feat was the strike on Sargodha Air Base — the strategic nerve centre of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Known as PAF Base Mushaf, this facility has long served as the launchpad for major Pakistani air operations. Its precise neutralisation dealt a massive blow to Pakistan's aerial capabilities.
The strike on Skardu Air Base — a joint hub for China and Pakistan — sent shockwaves through Rawalpindi. Once a looming threat due to its proximity to Ladakh, Skardu was turned into a fireball of destruction as Indian jets unleashed missiles with ruthless precision.
Another high-value target was the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi — the nerve centre of Pakistan’s air mobility command. India crippled this critical hub, disrupting the very backbone of Pakistan's airborne logistics and rapid deployment capabilities.
Rahim Yar Khan, a strategically located forward operating base in southern Punjab, was struck with clinical precision. The assault rendered the airbase inoperable, dealing a severe blow to Pakistan’s tactical air strength in the region and breaking a crucial link in its forward deployment chain.
Murid Air Base — a key centre for Pakistan’s drone operations known for hosting various Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) — was struck with pinpoint accuracy. The attack disrupted its surveillance systems and immobilised its drone fleet, dealing a sharp blow to Pakistan’s remote monitoring efforts.
Textbook Case Of 21st Century Warfare
In Operation Sindoor, India's Air Defence Systems — drawing strength from the Army, Navy, and especially the Air Force — worked in perfect coordination. Together, they formed an impenetrable shield that successfully blocked multiple Pakistani attempts to strike back.
The Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) of the Indian Air Force seamlessly connected all elements, enabling real-time coordination and delivering the networked capability essential for modern warfare.
In course of the operation, the Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defence systems and Turkish-origin UAVs, while BrahMos missiles, Rafale jets, SCALP missiles, and HAMMER bombs made the real strike.
India’s multi-layered air defence, strengthened by the homegrown Akashteer system, successfully shot down hundreds of Pakistani drones and missiles, neutralising threats with remarkable efficiency. The air defence systems detect, track, and eliminate threats using a network of radars, control centres, artillery, and both aircraft and ground-based missiles.
Moreover, every strike was carried out without any loss to Indian assets, highlighting the strength of our surveillance, precise planning, and efficient execution systems. The use of advanced indigenous technology — ranging from long-range drones to precision-guided munitions — made these strikes highly accurate and effective.
This is India of 2025, fighting with a digital third eye and a vengeful third arm. In today’s new age warfare, where battles go beyond borders and battlegrounds, Operation Sindoor will be remembered as a textbook example of modern 21st-century warfare — where technology, precision, and strategy worked in perfect coordination. International war studies would dissect Operation Sindoor for decades.
The writer is a senior multimedia journalist.
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