Operation Sindoor: India’s Precision Strike and Pakistan’s Tumultuous Aftermath

On 7 May 2025, the Indian Army launched Operation Sindoor, a series of coordinated air and missile strikes against nine designated terrorist sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The successful operation targeted training camps, logistical hubs, and safe houses belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), significantly degrading the group’s ability to plan and execute cross-border terror attacks .

The Targets and the Geography

The strikes focused on sites in Kotli, Gulpur, Bhimber, Muzaffarabad, Chak Amru, Muridke, and Bhawalpur—regions long known as hotbeds of militant activity. A detailed map shows the scope and precision corridors used by Indian aircraft to avoid civilian casualties and Pakistani air defenses .

Military Impact and Militant Casualties

Satellite imagery and post-strike assessments confirmed deep penetration into militant enclaves:

• Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters in Bahawalpur saw two SCALP cruise missiles obliterate fortified bunkers.

• Multiple training camps were leveled, disrupting JeM’s next generation of recruits.

• Logistics nodes supplying arms and ammunition were reduced to rubble.

Insurgent-affiliated fighters, many trained in these camps, have since been displaced, hampering their operational readiness .

Pakistan’s Domestic Shock: Parliament in Turmoil

Within hours of the operation, the Pakistani Parliament convened an emergency session. Inside the green-carpeted chamber, MPs grappled with the reality of India’s reach:

“We are vulnerable. Our air defenses have failed us yet again.”

— Retired Major Tahir Iqbal, visibly emotional on the floor of the House .

Major Iqbal, who served with distinction in the Pakistan Army, broke down in tears as he implored the government to reassess its security posture. His public display of anguish underscored the crisis of confidence rippling through Pakistan’s military and civilian leadership.

Political Fallout and Civilian Response

• Prime Minister’s Office scrambled to produce proof of Indian “aggression,” but the official statement merely urged citizens to trust state media—drawing ridicule from opposition leaders and the public alike.

• Imran Khan’s sister, speaking to international press, demanded evidence for Pakistan’s repeated claims of downed Indian fighters, exposing a growing distrust in government narratives.

• Religious outpourings and funerals for alleged JeM sympathizers were held in Punjab, where mourners publicly celebrated those killed, revealing the deep ideological divide in Pakistani society.

Strategic Implications

Operation Sindoor marks a dramatic evolution in India’s counterterrorism doctrine:

1. Precision strikes deep into enemy territory signal new willingness to act unilaterally against terror infrastructure.

2. Psychological impact on Pakistani morale—seen in the emotional collapse of senior officers—may deter future aggression.

3. International pressure on Pakistan to rein in non-state actors will intensify, as global capitals recognize India’s right to self-defense.
   

What’s Next?

Analysts predict Pakistan may attempt asymmetric retaliation—ranging from artillery barrages along the Line of Control to sponsoring proxy attacks within India. New Delhi, in turn, is expected to bolster its missile defense shields and extend intelligence cooperation with regional partners.

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About the Author

Ankit Sharma is a defense correspondent specializing in South Asian security affairs. He has covered Indian military operations since 2008.

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For further reading:

• “Cross-Border Counterterrorism: Lessons from Operation Sindoor,” Defense Review Quarterly, June 2025.

• “Militant Networks in PoK: Structure and Strategy,” Institute for Strategic Studies, April 2025.