On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a major military response to avenge Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that took the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, in Kashmir. This operation aimed at destroying the selected 9 terrorist locations in both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), representing a bold step forward in India’s counter-terrorism efforts.  While the operation highlighted India’s military precision, technological prowess, and diplomatic maturity, the decision to accept a ceasefire on May 10, without demanding immediate custody of terror leaders, has led to discussions about whether India let a crucial opportunity slip away.

This article delves into the outcomes of the operation, the strategic messages India aimed to convey, the fog of war surrounding the losses, and the ongoing issues that continue to influence India-Pakistan relations.

The Pahalgam Terror Attack and India’s Response

The Pahalgam terror attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an outfit of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was the deadliest in Kashmir in decades. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a tri-service operation involving precision airstrikes and missile deployments, including the BrahMos supersonic missile. The operation targeted 9 terrorist camps, reportedly killing over 100 terrorists, including key figures like Yousf Azhar, LeT’s chief, and Abu Jindal. Strikes destroyed or damaged significant terror hubs, such as the LeT headquarters in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) base in Bahawalpur.

Markaz Subhan Allah (JeM HQ Bahawalpur) was destroyed with deadly SCALP & Hammer missiles fired by Indian Air Force Rafale jets leaving 14 Members of Masood Azhar’s Family dead.

Markaz Taiba (Muridke LeT HQ) struck by IAF Missiles & Loitering Munitions.

Other Terror Locations, namely, Sarjal in Sialkot, Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot, Barnala in Bhimber, Abbas in Kotli, Gulpur in Kotli, Sawai Nala in Muzaffarabad, Syedna Bilal in Muzaffarabad were hit by IAF Fighters and loitering munitions launched by Indian Army

Indian forces demonstrated technological superiority, penetrating Pakistan’s air defenses up to 300 km with accuracy. The Indian Air Force (IAF) destroyed key Pakistani assets, including a Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS, two F-16s, a C-130J, and bases at Bholari and Jacobabad. Pakistan’s air defenses, reliant on Chinese-Turkish systems, were reportedly stunned by India’s integrated use of homegrown missiles, drones, jammers, radars, and satellites.

In Response Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan Marsoos and fired swarm of surveillance & armed drones including short range ballistic missiles into Indian territory both on Civilian & military targets. The weapons were majorly Turkish Drones & Chinese Missiles and JF-17 Fighter Jets. Pakistan claims to have shot down 6 Indian fighter jets. Indian Air Force has confirmed that all the pilots are safely back home. India’s CDS has indicated loss of some jets in the Phase-1 of Operation Sindoor due to tactical lacking.

However, Pakistan’s drone swarm, long range PL-15 & other missiles were intercepted and destroyed in the air by use of LR-70 Guns, MANPADS, Indigenous Akash ADM, Russian made S-400 Sudarshan ADM that constitute Indian 3-4 layered Air defense Systems.

India’s indigenous Akash ADM performed accurately and greatly supports now India’s defense export possibilities.

India’s diplomatic Maturity, Diplomatic Offensive and Soft Power

India’s handling of the Operation Sindoor’s international optics was adept in blending soft power with hard power. Following the strikes during Operation Sindoor, India deployed all-party delegations, including opposition leaders like Shashi Tharoor, M J Akbar and Kanimozhi, to brief global powers on Pakistan’s role in terrorism. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized a “new normal” where Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail would no longer shield its terror proxies. India’s outreach to the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee to designate TRF as a global terror group further underscored its proactive diplomacy.

By rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of brokering the ceasefire, India pushed forward the bilateral nature of the agreement, reinforcing its sovereignty in handling the crisis. This messaging negated Pakistan’s narrative, which leaned on U.S. mediation to save face domestically & avoid a full scale war, which Pakistan cannot sustain more than a week.

India’s ability to rally bipartisan support domestically and project a unified stance globally highlighted India’s growing diplomatic clout. The boycott of Turkish products and travel, in response to Turkey’s support for Pakistan, further amplified India’s economic influence as a soft power tool.

Operation Sindoor is now India’s policy against terrorism. Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal. India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. We will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism. This is certainly not the era of war but this is also not the era of terrorism.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, India

“Is US involved in Kashmir issue now? Has Shimla Agreement principle been breached? We demand a clear explanation from the Centre. What happened in our foreign policy? Were there any shortcomings? The nation deserves answers. We offered our full backing. Our soldiers fought bravely, and we salute them. However, questions are now being raised, and we cannot move forward without addressing them. These questions are not meant to blame anyone but to ensure that such lapses do not recur”

K Venugopal, Indian National Congress

The Ceasefire: A Missed Opportunity for India?

The ceasefire, effective May 10 after four days of intense battle, was initiated at Pakistan’s request, signaling India’s battlefield strength. However, India’s agreement to the ceasefire is being looked as a premature step.

Indian government did not demand the extradition of terror leaders like Masood Azhar, the UN-designated JeM chief, or Hafiz Saeed, LeT’s founder, both of whom have long operated from Pakistan and have attacked India time & again. Nor did India secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian naval officer detained in Pakistan since 2016 on disputed espionage charges. These omissions have fueled criticism, equally from the opposition parties & experts.

The ceasefire, described as a “pause” rather than a termination, leaves Operation Sindoor on hold, with India maintaining operational readiness. Critics, including some of PM Modi’s supporters, argue that India could have pressed for territorial gains, such as reclaiming PoK, or dismantled Pakistan’s terror infrastructure further.

Pakistan’s announcement of Rs 14 crore compensation for Masood Azhar and plans to rebuild LeT and JeM bases in Muridke and Bahawalpur have grown concerns that India’s gains may be short-lived.

Certainly, India should have asked for unconditional custody of Masood Azhar & Hafiz Saeed or return of Indian Naval Officer Kulbhusan Jadhav. These demands have the potential to further strengthen the range of Operation Sindoor instead of limiting it to battle objectives.

India may have won the battle and adjourned the war for now, but Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed remain alive and sheltered in Pakistan. Their continued presence poses a persistent threat, and future attacks on India seem likely. If that happens, a full-scale war between India & Pakistan might become unavoidable.

 “The ceasefire was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan. It was the Pakistani army which sent a message that they were ready to stop firing, and we responded accordingly. The US was in the United States. We made one thing very clear to everybody who spoke to us, not just the United States but to everyone, saying if the Pakistanis want to stop fighting, they need to tell us. We need to hear it from them. Their general has to call up our general and say this. And that is what happened”

S Jaishankar, Foreign Minister, India

“Operation Sindoor is not over yet; this was just a trailer. We will show the full movie to the world when the right time comes. We have kept Pakistan on probation to see if its behavior will improve,”

Rajnath Singh, Defense Minister, India

“Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory has long been an Indian political tradition, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory has become a repeating pattern. That is why India continues to repeat history. We never learn from history. So, history repeats itself. In 1972, we gave away our war gains onto the negotiating tables without securing anything in return from Pakistan. 2021, we vacated the strategic Kailash Heights, forfeiting our only bargaining chip in negotiations, and then we agreed to Chinese-designed buffer zones in Ladakh areas and now Operation Sindoor, the military movement was in India’s favor. Pakistan’s air defenses proved to be much weaker than Pak had expected could see that from the rival drones. They were sending so many drones and missiles into India but not effectively. India, on the other hand, sent a limited number of missiles and drones and was able to hit its targets,”

Brahma Chellaney, Noted Geo-strategist

The Fog of War: Unclear Losses

The brief conflict’s intensity has left the extent of hardware losses shrouded in uncertainty. Indian sources claim significant damage to Pakistani military assets that include the destruction of advanced Pakistani aircrafts and air bases. Pakistan, however, has not officially confirmed these losses, and its military has claimed superiority to justify the ceasefire to its public.

The Indian side has yet to officially clarify the extent of its aircraft losses. However, during a recent event in Singapore, India’s Chief of Defense Staff acknowledged that fighter jets were indeed lost during the initial phase of Operation Sindoor due to tactical shortcomings. These issues were swiftly resolved, enabling India to carry out successful strikes on key Pakistani air bases such as Rahim Yar Khan and Noor Khan without facing significant resistance. He also said Pakistan’s assumption of shooting down 6 Indian jet is false & misinformation.

Without verified data, the true cost to both sides remains obscured, fueling speculation and nationalist narratives.

“What was important is why did these losses occur and what we did after that. After the losses, we rectified tactics and then went back on May 7, 8 and 10 in large numbers to hit airbases deep inside Pakistan, penetrated all their air defenses with impunity, carried out precision strikes. We flew all types of aircraft with all types of ordnances on May 10 & struck Pakistani Critical Bases”

Chief of Defense Staff, India – General Anil Chauhan

Above statement gives an indication that India may have lost a few aircrafts during initial stages of Operation Sindoor, however, India has not released full details of the losses.

At the same time, Pakistan has not come clear of the number of loss of aircrafts during the battle. Unverified reports suggest that Pakistan has lost nearly 8 jets that include JF 17 & F16 and 1 or 2 AWACS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Satellite images released by independent sources show the extensive damages suffered by Pakistan due to precision attacks from Indian Air Force.

Strategic Shifts and the Road Ahead

Operation Sindoor marked an architectural shift in India’s approach, downgrading Pakistan’s reliance on nuclear blackmail to shield its proxy war strategy. Operation Sindoor’s success, mixed with India’s diplomatic offence & outreach, has redefined the “red lines” in India-Pakistan relations, signalling that future terror attacks will invite severe retaliation.

However, Pakistan’s continued support for terror groups, evidenced by its compensation plans and attendance of officials at terrorists’ funerals, suggests that the underlying ideological alignment with terrorism persists.

The Threat of Water due to suspension of IWT (Indus Water Treaty)

India’s diplomatic offense by deciding to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance until Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism further escalates the stakes, using water as a strategic lever. Yet, the absence of demands for custody of terror leaders or Jadhav’s release raises questions about whether India fully capitalized on its excellent military and diplomatic leverage during the 4 days battle. As Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned, the ceasefire places Pakistan on “probation,” with India ready to resume action if provoked.

“The ceasefire will not hold good permanently. Pakistan will also fight the abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty by India tooth and nail,”

Indian Defense Strategist Brigadier S K Chatterji

Time will reveal how India adheres to the diplomatic offensive it launched against Pakistan on April 23, 2025, particularly by suspending the Indus Water Treaty. Technically, it will take India several years to develop the infrastructure needed to divert water to other regions in India and restrict its flow to Pakistan. Pakistan will vigorously defend its rights to water flow and the sharing of hydrological data. The Indus Water Treaty remains a potential flashpoint if not swiftly and mutually amended, based on political commitments to each other that must include the elimination of terror hubs within Pakistan’s territory, the hubs that keep striking India causing emotive reactions from India.

“India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and trade bans, along with Pakistan’s economic constraints, will keep relations strained.”

Ajay Bisaria, Ex-Indian high commissioner to Pakistan 

Operation Sindoor was a brave example of India’s military and diplomatic prowess, delivering a punishing strike to Pakistan’s terror ecosystem while projecting a mature diplomatic image internationally.

However, the ceasefire, while tactically sound, left critical demands not kept on the table, adjourning the broader war against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. As the fog of war lingers over losses and Pakistan rebuilds its terror infrastructure, India faces the challenge of sustaining its hard-won gains.

An Outstanding, Precise & Spectacular Operation Sindoor was underway. However, diplomacy and international pressure have led to a premature & precocious ceasefire. What lies ahead? Was such an early ceasefire truly necessary for India? Should Operation Sindoor have continued for 1 more week to completely wipe out terror infrastructure and Pakistan’s influence in POK? Time will reveal.

US Operation Enduring Freedom against terrorism was active for 13 years, from October 7, 2001, to December 31, 2014, in Afghanistan. President Obama announced its conclusion on December 28, 2014. Although Osama Bin Laden was killed in 2011, the operation continued until 2014 to achieve broader objectives, namely, to weaken or destroy Al Qaeda fully.

Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there.  It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated.

George W Bush, Former President of the United States in 2001 while declaring Operation Enduring Freedom

In Indian history and scripture, “The Ramayan,” Mata (Mother) Sita did not return with Hanuman to her husband, Lord Ram, after being found in Lanka (now Sri Lanka) following her abduction by the demon Ravan. Instead, she desired that her husband, Lord Ram, fight war against Ravan, rescue her with valor, and decisively end Ravan’s misdeeds and sins. She was not satisfied with only Hanuman burning Lanka. She wanted the war to be conclusive, righteous, and complete. She was not a warmonger; her desire only shows that sometimes war is a necessity, negating all logic that may seem pragmatic in general, but not practical. Lord Ram invaded Lanka, fought the war, killed the demon Ravan, reinstated lawful governance there, rescued his queen Mata Sita and returned home.

The Point is that a decisive war offers a clear resolution and long-term stability in addition to permanent psychological fear in the minds of rivals. A surgical strike like Operation Sindoor may serve minimum collateral damage and reduce scope of larger escalation, but it does not solve the crux of the conflict, terror hubs still stay in Pakistan. In Conclusion, Operation Sindoor showcased the valour, precision, victory and sacrifice of the Indian military, but the circumstances surrounding the government’s acceptance to a premature ceasefire cast a shadow of mystery. Only time will tell.

For now, India’s Operation Sindoor and its spectacular performance are on a pause.

The battle is won, but the war is adjourned.