From a ground reality perspective, this is not escalation per se, but a befitting response to what we have suffered first. And just remember, how the difference was: Pakistan attacked honest and innocent civilians through its proxies; India hit back at terrorist breeding grounds. This time, our attacks are in camera, for the world to see; if ever proof was needed that indeed there were these terror havens within Pakistan, this too became transparent. That Pakistan has been the seat of global terror underscores the need for countries like China to revisit their stand. For, one never knows, when such terror can strike within their own countries, as the USA discovered in 9/11 – Editor
Introduction
At 0144 hours of 07 May India launched “Operation Sindoor,” hitting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The strikes were in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April, in which 26 people including one Nepalese were killed by extreme barbarity.
With Operation Sindoor, India exercised its right to respond and preempt, as well as deter more such cross-border attacks, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. He also added that the attack was also designed to spread communal tension in India.” It was important to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice,” he said, adding that Pakistan has a well-deserved reputation for being a haven for terrorism.
These kinetic measures were a follow up of non-kinetic measures taken soon after the attack which include suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, reducing diplomatic presence, asking Pakistan citizens in India to return, stopping trade and closure of airspace.
There have also been increased violations of the Line of Control with Pakistan resorting to heavy firing in Bhimber Gali in the Poonch- Rajouri Sector. There are reports that ten people have been killed and 38 injured by Pakistani shelling. Firing on the LoC was expected as there are no other viable targets.
The strikes have been carried out before a planned civil defence security drill across 244 districts of the country for “effective civil defence in the event of a hostile attack”.
Shortly after the attack the Indian Army on X posted ‘Justice has been served, Jai Hind’.
The Strikes
The air strikes were aimed at specific terrorist camps used to plan and direct attacks on Indian soil. As per the Defence Ministry, “actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature.”
The nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including Muridke and Bahawalpur, which are the strongholds of terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, respectively. The other locations are Gulpur, Sawai Camp, Bilal Camp, Kotli Camp in PoJK, Barnala Camp: in PoJK, Sarjal Camp: in PoJK and Mehmoona Camp in PoJK. The biggest hits were reported in Bahawalpur and Muridke, two key terror camps where around 25-30 terrorists were killed at each site.
These nine terror camps were successfully destroyed. The selection of the targets was based on credible intelligence inputs and role of these facilities in perpetrating the terror activities over the years including Ajmal Kasab and David Headley being trained at one of the camps targeted. These were locations from where recruitment, indoctrination, training and launching are carried out.
Precision strike weapon systems of the three forces, the Army, Navy and Air Force, were used in the attacks as per sources. The forces also used Kamikaze drones also known as loitering ammunitions, weapons designed to crash into a target, typically carrying a warhead. Prior to the attacks there is no doubt that precise intelligence would have been gathered regarding the presence of the terrorists and the locations. There is no doubt that there has been a most successful coordination between the three Services in planning and execution and the attacks, demonstrating precision technology, careful selection of targets and clinical efficiency in execution.
In 2016, India carried out precision surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in PoJK, ten days after the Uri attacks in which four Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists from Pakistan killed 16 soldiers.
In February 2019, a vehicle-borne suicide bomber from JeM targeted a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Pulwama, killing 40 soldiers. India responded with force, and the Indian Air Force struck terror camps in Balakot on 26 February, across the international border in Pakistan. This was the first time since the 1971 war, the IAF crossed the international border for military action.
India is prepared for potential retaliation by Pakistan, and there are reports that the air-defence units along the border have been activated. Several flights across the country have also been cancelled and airspace closed to civilian travel. There are also reports that intense artillery fire has opened up over the Line of Control.
National Sentiment
The terror attack has marked a significant shift in the contemporary security narrative destabilizing regional equilibrium and resurrecting cross-border terrorism.
The assault also raised questions about Pakistan’s claims to be a responsible actor calls for a recalibration of Pakistan’s internal security strategy to neutralise non-state actors and reassure the world community of its commitment to counterterrorism.
Though Prime Minister Modi had stated to President Putin in 2022 that “this is not an era of war” but the national sentiment has reignited a familiar cycle of grief and anger and a desire for punitive action. It was therefore not surprising that on 24 April, in a rare shift from Hindi, he delivered a warning in English: “India will identify and punish every terrorist and their backers.” It was now politically unaffordable not to take a kinetic action.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, monitored the operation through the night, as per sources. Soon after the operation, NSA Ajit Doval spoke with US NSA and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and briefed him on the actions taken. Who then posted on his X handle that I am monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely. I echo @POTUS ‘s comments earlier today that this hopefully ends quickly and will continue to engage both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution.
China has expressed concern urging both nations to avoid escalating tensions. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry called for restraint and said “We are concerned about the ongoing situation. India and Pakistan are and will always be each other’s neighbours. They are also China’s neighbours.”
“China opposes all forms of terrorism. We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation,” the spokesperson added. The statement is significant as Pakistan sees China as an all-weather friend and China
Pakistan’s Reaction
Pakistan’s Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar said: “This attack is unjustified and an absolutely blind aggression”. “We will obviously retaliate… Our response is on the ground and in the air.”
Their military spokesperson has said that there were 24 impacts at six locations killing eight and injuring 35 persons while two people are missing. There are also reports that LeT’s Hafiz Abdul Malik and Mudassir were killed in last night’s strike on Markaz Tayyeba in Muridke.
There will now be a lot of misinformation from Pakistan which will include the deaths of women and children and targeting of mosques in the attacks as well as downing of Indian aircraft. This is something that needs to be guarded against and countered.
Conclusion
While it is a step in the escalatory ladder, India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted which has sent a message that India is only targeting the breeding grounds of terrorism. Further the LoC and IB have not been violated.
India’s action reaffirms its commitment to bringing perpetrators of terror attacks to justice. “We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable,” the Defence Ministry said.
This is also the first time since the 1971 war that all three Services have been used together to target Pakistan. Even though there were expectations that India could launch some sort of military action based on Indian announcements, the scale and intensity of the missile attacks inside Pakistan has surprised many. There has also been an evolution from manned ground raids post Uri to precision strikes which reflects India’s increasing reliance on technology minimizing risks to own personnel while maximising range and demonstrating sophistication.
India’s response to Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism must focus on long-term strategies that impose costs that prevent it from using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.
The symbolism of this hard-hitting strike therefore is as important as the strike itself. “Victory to India, is what the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote in Hindi.
There are a range of options across the spectrum of conflict are available with the government which will be used at the appropriate time and manner. Presently, India has demonstrated its tri-Services professionalism and capability with a calibrated response that has been calculated with power and resolve.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Major General Jagatbir Singh VSM, (Retd), has held various command, staff and instructional appointments and served in varied terrains in the country. He has served in a United Nations Peace Keeping Mission as a Military Observer in Iraq and Kuwait. He has been an instructor to Indian Military Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He has commanded the prestigious 1 Armoured Division. He is a prolific writer in defence& national security and is a Distinguished Fellow at USI.
