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The inevitable response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and against the huge terror hideouts in Pakistan, known as ‘Operation Sindoor’, was carried out by India on the dead of the night of 07 May 2025. India’s retribution was progressively notched up from its earlier responses against terrorist attacks for Uri across the Line of Control in 2016, and the unprecedented air strikes in Balakot, Pakistan, in retaliation for the Pulwama terrorist assault. The codeword of ‘Operation Sindoor’ was chosen by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
During the strike, multiple attacks were carried out across the LoC, inflicting enormous damage to Jaish and Lashkar terrorist infrastructure. India made clear that military strikes were in self-defence, against cross-border terrorism, not military targets; they were preventive, proportionate, non-escalatory and were accompanied by a warning that any Pakistani misadventure would be responded to with equal force.
Addressing the nation the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi remarked that the nation has witnessed both India’s strength and restraint during the operation. He extended his salute to the country’s formidable armed forces, intelligence agencies, and scientists on behalf of every Indian citizen. The Prime Minister highlighted the unwavering courage displayed by India’s brave soldiers in achieving the objectives of Operation Sindoor, acknowledging their valour, resilience, and indomitable spirit.
Prime Minister’s address to the nation
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the nation on May 12, 2025. In his address, he remarked that the nation has witnessed both India’s strength and restraint in recent days. He extended his salute to the country’s formidable armed forces, intelligence agencies, and scientists on behalf of every Indian citizen. The Prime Minister highlighted the unwavering courage displayed by India’s brave soldiers in achieving the objectives of Operation Sindoor, acknowledging their valor, resilience, and indomitable spirit. He dedicated this unparalleled bravery to every mother, sister, and daughter of the nation.
Full freedom to eliminate terrorists
Condemning strongly the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, stating that it shocked both the nation and the world, Shri Modi described the act as a gruesome display of terror, where innocent civilians enjoying their holidays were brutally killed after being questioned about their faith—right in front of their families and children. He stressed that this was not just an act of cruelty but also a vile attempt to fracture the nation’s harmony. Expressing his deep personal anguish over the attack, he highlighted how the entire nation—every citizen, every community, every section of society, and every political party—stood united in demanding strong action against terrorism. He asserted that the government had given the armed forces full freedom to eliminate the terrorists. He warned all terrorist organizations, declaring that they now fully understand the consequences of attempting to harm the dignity of the nation’s women.
“Operation Sindoor is not just a name but a reflection of the emotions of millions of Indians”, emphasised the Prime Minister, describing it as an unwavering pledge to justice, one that the world witnessed being fulfilled on May 6-7. The Prime Minister highlighted that the Indian armed forces executed precise strikes on terrorist hideouts and training centers in Pakistan, delivering a decisive blow. He remarked that the terrorists never imagined India would make such a bold move, but when the nation stands united with Nation First as its guiding principle, firm decisions are
taken and impactful results are delivered. He stated that India’s missile and drone strikes on terrorist hubs in Pakistan shattered not only their infrastructure but also their morale. The Prime Minister pointed out that locations like Bahawalpur and Muridke had long operated as centers of global terrorism, linking them to major attacks worldwide, including 9/11 attacks of US, the London Tube bombings, and decades of terrorist incidents in India. He declared that since terrorists had dared to destroy the dignity of Indian women, India had eliminated the headquarters of terror. The operation resulted in the elimination of over 100 dangerous terrorists, including key figures who had openly plotted against India for decades, he added, affirming that those who orchestrated threats against India had been swiftly neutralized.
India’s precise and forceful strikes left Pakistan in deep frustration
Shri Modi stated that India’s precise and forceful strikes had left Pakistan in deep frustration, pushing it into desperation. In its agitation, Pakistan resorted to a reckless act instead of joining the global fight against terrorism—it launched attacks on Indian schools, colleges, gurudwaras, temples, and civilian homes, also targeting military bases, he added. He highlighted how this aggression exposed Pakistan’s vulnerabilities, as its drones and missiles crumbled like straw before India’s advanced air defense systems, which neutralized them in the sky. He remarked that while Pakistan had prepared to strike India’s borders, India delivered a decisive
blow to Pakistan’s core. Indian drones and missiles executed highly accurate strikes, severely damaging Pakistani airbases that it had long boasted about. Within the first three days of India’s response, Pakistan suffered destruction far beyond its expectations. Following India’s aggressive countermeasures, Pakistan began seeking ways to de-escalate, appealing to the global community for relief from rising tensions. He revealed that, after suffering severe losses, Pakistan’s military reached out to India’s DGMO on the afternoon of May 10. By then, India had already dismantled large-scale terrorist infrastructure, eliminated key militants, and reduced Pakistan’s terror hubs to ruins. Shri Modi noted that Pakistan, in its appeal, assured that it would cease all terrorist activities and military aggression against India. In light of this statement, India reviewed the situation and decided to temporarily suspend its counter-operations against Pakistan’s terrorist and military installations. He reiterated that this suspension is not a conclusion—India will continue to assess Pakistan’s every move in the coming days, ensuring that its future actions align with its commitments.
PAKISTAN’S BID TO ESCALATE NEGATED -PROPORTIONATE RESPONSE BY INDIA
During the Press Briefing on Operation SINDOOR on 07 May 2025, India had called its response as focused, measured and non-escalatory. It was specifically mentioned that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted. It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response.On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks.
Today morning Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised.
Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using Mortars and heavy calibre Artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing. Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring Mortar and Artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt. Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military.
Operation Sindoor is now India’s established policy
The Prime Minister emphasized that India’s armed forces—the Army, Air Force, Navy, Border Security Force (BSF), and paramilitary units—remain on high alert, ensuring national security at all times. “Operation Sindoor is now India’s established policy in the fight against terrorism, marking a decisive shift in India’s strategic approach”, he declared, stating that the operation has set a new standard, a new normal in counter-terrorism measures. The Prime Minister outlined three key pillars of India’s security doctrine; firstly the Decisive Retaliation, when Any terrorist attack on India will be met with a strong and resolute response. India will retaliate on its own terms, targeting terror hubs at their roots. The second is No Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail; India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats. Any terrorist safe haven operating under this pretext will face precise and decisive strikes. Third pillar being No Distinction Between Terror Sponsors and Terrorists; India will no longer see terrorist leaders and the governments sheltering them as separate entities. He pointed out that during Operation Sindoor, the world once again witnessed Pakistan’s disturbing reality—senior Pakistani military officials openly attending funerals of eliminated terrorists, proving Pakistan’s deep involvement in state-sponsored terrorism. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that India will continue taking decisive steps to safeguard its citizens against any threat.
India consistently defeated Pakistan on battlefield
Asserting that India has consistently defeated Pakistan on the battlefield, and Operation Sindoor has added a new dimension to the nation’s military prowess, Shri Modi highlighted India’s remarkable capability in both desert and mountainous warfare while also establishing superiority in New Age Warfare. He emphasized that during the operation, the effectiveness of Made in India defense equipment was decisively proven. He remarked that the world is now witnessing the arrival of Made in India defense systems as a formidable force in 21st-century warfare.
Pakistan’s continuously nurtured terrorism
Shri Modi asserted that Pakistan’s military and government have continuously nurtured terrorism, warning that such actions will eventually lead to Pakistan’s own downfall. He declared that if Pakistan seeks survival, it must dismantle its terror infrastructure—there is no other path to peace. He reaffirmed India’s firm stance,
stating that terror and talks cannot coexist, terror and trade cannot run parallel, and blood and water cannot flow together. Addressing the global community, he reiterated India’s long-standing policy that any discussions with Pakistan will focus solely on terrorism and any negotiations with Pakistan will center around Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Concluding his address, he once again saluted the valor of the Indian armed forces and expressed his deep respect for the courage and unity of the people of India.
Highlights
• Today, every terrorist knows the consequences of wiping Sindoor from the foreheads of our sisters and daughters
• Operation Sindoor is an unwavering pledge for justice.
• Terrorists dared to wipe the Sindoor from the foreheads of our sisters; that’s why India destroyed the very headquarters of terror.
• Pakistan had prepared to strike at our borders,but India hit them right at their core.
• Operation Sindoor has redefined the fight against terror, setting a new benchmark, a new normal.
• This is not an era of war, but it is not an era of terrorism either.
• Zero tolerance against terrorism is the guarantee of a better world.
• Any talks with Pakistan will focus on terrorism and PoK.