New Delhi:
Operation Sindoor marked India’s precise military response to terrorist training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, commencing at 1:25 AM Wednesday.
This operation followed the Pahargam terrorist attack on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of mostly civilians, including Nepali nationals, attributed to the Pakistan-based terrorist group, Rashkar Aetaiba.
India has consistently urged for global support against cross-border terrorism, recalling past attacks such as those in Pulwama in 2019, URI in 2016, and the Indian Parliament attack in 2001.
In the aftermath of the Pahargam attacks, Indian officials suggested that Pakistan’s governance was involved in facilitating these acts.
During a briefing, the government described ‘Operation Sindoor’ as a calculated answer to persistent support for “measured, non-escalated, proportional and responsible” terrorism.
The military action reportedly neutralized 70 terrorists and injured over 60 at nine distinct locations, including sites connected to the Mumbai attack planners.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally selected the codename “Sindoor,” symbolizing a traditional mark worn by married Hindu women, as a fitting title following the brutal nature of the Pahargam attack, where a family was targeted in front of their loved ones.
Previous anti-terror operations often bore more aggressive names, such as “Vijay” from the Kargil War in 1999 and other operations named “Trident” and “Python” during the 1971 conflict.
For context, here are some notable historical operations:
‘Vandal‘ refers to the airstrike in Barakot, Pakistan, in February 2019, which followed a devastating suicide bombing in Pulwama where 40 CRPF soldiers lost their lives.
Just days later, Indian Air Force jets crossed into Pakistan to target the Jaish Training Camp, marking the first aerial cross-border action since 1971.
The URI attack occurred three years prior to Pulwama, where 19 Indian soldiers were killed when terrorists struck an army base near Uri.
The military’s response to the URI attack showcased India’s capability, as they eliminated terrorist camps and launchpads across the Line of Control with minimal casualties on their side.
This approach was reproduced during the Kargil War with operations named ‘Vijay‘ and ‘SAFED SAGAR. ‘
The former aimed to reclaim territories lost early in the conflict, while the latter involved airstrikes to dislodge Pakistani forces.
In 1984, ‘Operation Meghdoot’ involved Indian forces consolidating their position over the Siachen Glacier against Pakistani claims.
The 1971 conflict saw critical operations named “Cactus Lily“, “Trident”, and “Python” which were pivotal in surrounding the capital of what was then East Pakistan.
These operations were significant, with ‘Trident’ being notable for the first use of anti-ship missiles in regional combat.
Finally, ‘Mystery‘ and ‘Burning‘ were operations during the 1965 war, responding to incursions beyond the Line of Control and involving mobilization tactics in preparation for conflict.
