Operation Sindoor: India Sets a New Benchmark in Military Tactics, Strikes Terrorism Hard

New Delhi: The year 2025 proved to be monumental for India’s defense sector, marked by strategic military operations, technological advancements, and a resolute stance against terrorism. The highlight of the year was Operation Sindoor, along with a series of decisive strikes that set a “new normal” in counter-terrorism.

Operation Sindoor: A Demonstration of Strategic Might
Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India delivered a strong and measured response, compelling Pakistan to seek a ceasefire. On 7 May 2025, under Operation Sindoor, India launched targeted strikes against terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Subsequent retaliatory attempts by Islamabad were effectively neutralized, including precise bombing on Pakistani airbases.

Experts say Operation Sindoor sent a clear message to the world: India will confront terrorism head-on and hold accountable states harboring such threats. Moving beyond surgical retaliation, India has established a position of doctrinal deterrence, assuring that any proven cross-border terrorist act will be met with decisive consequences.

Modern Warfare Redefined
Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon (Retd.), who has commanded counter-terrorism operations across Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, described air defense as a pivotal new tool in modern warfare. Despite regional upheavals—from protests in Nepal to Bangladesh’s interim government led by Mohammad Yunus—cross-border terrorism backed by Pakistan remained a persistent challenge.

India Today is Not the India of Yesterday
Lt. Gen. Dhillon emphasized that Pakistan’s objective is to destabilize India. The Pahalgam attack was an attempt to divert attention from Pakistan’s internal crises—political failures, corruption in the military, economic instability, and diplomatic setbacks. But “today’s India” is markedly different: the fourth-largest global economy, a major military power, the world’s largest democracy, and a nation with strong political will. Pakistan failed to account for India’s rising stature in its planning of terrorist operations.

A Powerful Warning: Operation 2.0
Experts note that any future misadventures by Pakistan could provoke Operation Sindoor 2.0, delivering a stronger blow not only militarily, but also economically, politically, and diplomatically. Lt. Gen. Dhillon, who led operations during the Pulwama attack, the Balakot airstrike, and the removal of Article 370, highlighted how Operation Sindoor has set a new global benchmark in counter-terrorism and reshaped India’s operational doctrine.

In 2025, India proved that its military might, technological capabilities, and strategic resolve make it a formidable force against terrorism, redefining regional security and sending a clear message of deterrence to the world.