How Operation Sindoor paves the way for India’s diplomatic win
19/07/2025
By Aditya Rangroo
The success of India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ launched on 6-7 May against terrorist camps based in Pakistan and POJK, has demonstrated India’s defence prowess. It speaks of her competence and determination to fight terrorism abetted by her Western neighbour since 1990s. Action against the entrenched terrorists and their camps in Pakistan and POJK was necessitated this time by yet another act of barbarism on April 22, in which the terrorists took the lives of 26 tourists at the Baisaran picnic spot in Pahalgam. The Resistance Front (TRF) accepted the responsibility for the carnage.
TRF is a branch of Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-i-Tayyaba, one of the five Pakistani terrorist organizations designated by the UN, US and some international organizations. Two days ago, the US announced a ban on TRF also. The reality of these bans is that the activists quickly change the nomenclature and continue their nefarious designs under different names, generally drawn from the Islamic history of wars.
Operation Sindoor has redefined India's anti-terror strategy and also exposed Pakistan as the breeding ground for international terrorism. Military strategists all over the world have acknowledged how effectively India has carried out its mission of selective targeting of the terrorists and their 9 camps so far. Apart from destroying no fewer than nine airbases in Pakistan, including those of Nur Khan, Sargodha, Kirana Hill, etc., where Pakistani nuclear structures had been set up, more than a hundred terrorists trained for clandestine operations across the LoC in Kashmir were also eliminated. This massive and bold anti-terrorist operation, leading to the demolition of terror infrastructure in Pakistan, asserting military supremacy, re-establishing deterrence, and presenting a new national security doctrine, is highly appreciated by those countries that know and understand the existential threat posed by global terrorism, especially of religious orientation.
Through this operation, India has given a clear and loud message to the world that it is not going to tolerate any terrorist activity. Indian Prime Minister’s statement that the ceasefire does not mean the operation against terrorism is over. If terrorist attacks are repeated, India’s response can be mind-boggling.
This has come at a time when the world is already going through a crisis with the likes of the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Iran conflict.
Big diplomatic victory
In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s blatant lies and malicious deception were blown out of bottom by India’s multi-party delegations, primarily consisting of Members of Parliament (MPs), who travelled to over 33 countries across different regions. This was India’s well-thought-out international diplomatic outreach, as it accentuated the country’s right to self-defence against cross-border terrorist attacks; it also presented a convincing picture of national unity.
These visits paved the way for India to cement its position on the global stage as the front-ranking country that had taken on the scourge of terrorism and left Pakistan in an embarrassing situation. For instance, Colombia withdrew its previous statement in which it had offered condolences to Pakistan for the deaths caused by the Indian army's strikes on terrorist facilities during the operation. This move by Colombia came after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who led an all-party delegation to the Americas, had expressed disappointment with the Colombian government for expressing condolences for the deaths in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor instead of showing sympathy for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
On similar lines, France reaffirmed its support for India in the fight against terrorism, which has been emanating from Pakistan. French authorities stressed that the democratic world must come forward and speak with one voice on the issue of terrorism. This vindicates India’s smart diplomacy, as a supportive statement emanated from the French authorities after BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, who led the delegation for the Paris chapter and other countries in Europe, explained the history and atrocities of jihadism.
The wide appreciation of India’s lead in taking on the challenge of terrorism was so palpable that it made Indonesia, the largest Muslim country, condemn the attack on innocent lives in Pahalgam and extend its support to India in the fight against terrorism. The credit for this diplomatic win rests upon JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, who led the delegation for the Indonesia chapter and had met Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Arief Havas Oegroseno.
Another diplomatic victory came from the Saudi Arabia chapter, where Baijayanti Jay Panda had led the delegation and met with Adel Al-Jubair, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The exchange of ideas between the all-party delegation and Adel turned in India's favour, as Saudi Arabia expressed its support to India in its war against terrorism, which essentially is emanating from Pakistani soil.
Other countries like South Africa, Guyana and Greece also expressed their solidarity with India and condemned the terrorists’ acts against the innocent lives. They all pledged to support India in eradicating terrorism from the world. Similarly, the all-party delegation’s visits to Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria were extremely successful. The delegation effectively conveyed India's viewpoints while meeting with high-ranking authorities. The President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad’ul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Sayyid Asaduddin Owaisi, an outstanding Indian parliamentarian, countered Pakistan's religious narrative of the Kashmir dispute as the head of the party and a well-known Muslim MP from Hyderabad.
Undoubtedly, this has been a very strategic move from the Indian leadership, as the all-party delegation visits had echoed the message to the global leadership that India believes in a peaceful resolution. But it won't shy away from giving a befitting response if anybody challenges its sovereignty and integrity. Certainly, this has left Pakistan in a deep imbroglio as the country has nothing to offer when it comes to disassociating itself from the terrorist camps operating on its soil.
India’s defence prowess
Not only did Operation Sindoor expose Pakistan's weak air defence, but it also demonstrated India's military might. With no recorded casualties, Indian Rafale jets armed with Hammer bombs and Scalp missiles carried out the mission, showcasing their supremacy in both technology and strategy.
India designed a strong, multi-layered architecture to protect its airspace. An outcome of the airstrikes is that they exposed the fragility of Chinese jets and radar systems, as these were made ineffective by India's superior airpower. Moreover, it has been reported that India intercepted other projectiles and missiles and shot down an F-16 as well as two JF-17 fighter jets from Pakistan. The Indian military also reportedly shot down Pakistan's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
India’s patience over the decades ultimately paid off. India understands the horrors of war, and that is why it has invoked the world community to desist Pakistan from adventurism. Pakistan's Generals took India’s complacency as a sign of its weakness. But when the time came for India to demonstrate its might, the entire world was surprised at the power and planning of India. The DRD had shown how lethal it could be. The accuracy with which the targets were struck has been a surprise to military experts. It is worth noting that the ability to accomplish such a stupendous task has forced world powers to reconsider their estimation of India as a rising global power.
Another strategic change discernible in the Operation Sindoor is that the entire exercise was the brainchild of PM Modi, who envisioned transferring the defence infrastructure to the non-contact war structure. This was opposite to the earlier Uri surgical strike and Balakot attacks, which were essentially a replica of traditional war modules.
In this context, PM Modi had understood that the outdated approach would not be viable in the long run. He felt the need to change the combat tactics to non-contact warfare since it would not allow deep strikes into Pakistan, which are necessary for India to eliminate terrorist organisations. The result of this change was Operation Sindoor and its incredible success.
With the destruction of terror base camps in Pakistan, India has signalled to the world about its defence might and how it is going to boost its military capabilities further. Operation Sindoor also challenged the hegemony of the US and China, who invariably believed that India would consider them before any military response to Pakistan. However, with this operation, India indicated to the world its global position and how it is going to deal with its neighbours without relying on any outsiders.
Operation Sindoor checkmates Pakistan.
For Pakistan, embroiled in Baloch insurgency, sectarian unrest, a crumbling economy, weak institutions, and ineffective leadership, Operation Sindoor has turned into an existential tragedy. Having lost any sense of dignity and established norms of warfare, Pakistan began attacking India without distinction, assaulting civilian targets such as homes, temples, and schools in addition to military installations.
Pahalgam carnage led to the isolation of Pakistan. Even her “iron friend” played truant to her. The happening reinforced the resolve of the international community to put an end to terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations.
The world has now recognised Pakistan as the hub of international terrorism. By and large, every apprehended terrorist or every incident of terrorism is somehow or other linked to Pakistan. Did not Khwaja Asif confess to Sky News anchor Yalda Hakim that his country has been “playing the dirty game” for nearly six decades for the US and UK? Was not Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind 9/11, found hiding in a house barely at a stone’s throw from the Pak GHQ. Did not Trump ask Pakistan to set free from prison the Pakistani doctor who is alleged to have disclosed to the Americans the whereabouts of Bin Laden? Ladin's further blow came to Pakistan after the world leaders unanimously acknowledged Pakistan's status as a hub for terrorism. Also, the gruesome Pahalgam terrorist strike further cemented Pakistan’s position as a state sponsor of terrorism.
With this, its former friendly partners have strongly denounced the attack and criticised Pakistan for being a sponsor of international terrorism.
On the economic front, Operation Sindoor has also crumbled Pakistan's growth prospects and put it into a difficult situation. Pakistan is facing the heat, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed eleven conditions for the cash-strapped nation in order to be able to receive the next instalment of the bailout package. The condition ranges from approving a new budget of 17.6 trillion Pakistani rupees, raising the debt service surcharge on electricity bills, and removing the prohibition on importing cars that are more than three years old. Furthermore, the IMF cautioned Pakistan that there would be a greater risk to the bailout program’s external, reform, and budgetary objectives if tensions between Pakistan and India either continue or worsen.
The tailpiece of this write-up is the hot rumour making rounds in military and social circles is that the Army Chief is likely to step into the President’s palace while President Zardari is asked to quit. The army chief was recently hosted for lunch at the White House.
(Aditya Rangroo is a Freelance Editor and has worked with The Press Trust of India, NDTV and Hindustan Times)
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