Subhechcha Ganguly 
India’s swift and precision-led military campaign, codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’, has dealt a heavy blow to Pakistan’s terror infrastructure and military installations, significantly tilting the tactical balance in India’s favor during four days of intense cross-border hostilities that erupted after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
Launched in the early hours of May 7, the Indian offensive saw coordinated air and ground strikes targeting nine terror training camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), reportedly killing around 100 terrorists within just 26 minutes, according to defence sources. The strikes also disabled key Pakistani air defence sites and air bases, including those in Lahore and Karachi, as part of a robust countermeasure against Pakistan’s retaliatory attempts.
India’s military employed Rafale fighter jets armed with Scalp cruise missiles and Hammer smart bombs, along with M777 howitzers firing Excalibur rounds and kamikaze drones, to ensure strategic precision and maximum impact. Targets were chosen based on hard intelligence, focusing on locations with known links to cross-border terrorism.
A senior defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “We smashed their terror infrastructure, air defences, and several airbases. Pakistan’s counter-offensive was largely ineffective and poorly coordinated.”
During the brief but intense conflict, Pakistan attempted a counter-strike using drones and missiles on Indian military installations across 15 cities in northern and western India. However, India’s robust air defence umbrella—featuring systems like the S-400 Triumf, Akash SAMs, Barak 8, and a suite of anti-drone technologies—successfully intercepted most of the incoming threats.
The confrontation, which briefly brought the two nuclear-armed neighbors to the brink of war, was halted after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, announced by President Donald Trump. Though the ceasefire has formally paused large-scale hostilities, India has accused Pakistan of violating it along the Line of Control (LoC).
As calm tentatively returns to the region, analysts note that India’s rapid, high-precision response through Operation Sindoor has not only showcased its military capabilities but also underscored a significant shift in New Delhi’s strategic posture.
