What is Operation Sindoor, 2025?

Introduction

In response to the Pahalgam terrorist incident in April 2025, India initiated Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terrorist infrastructure facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Indian official briefing on the operation was led by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

What is Operation Sindoor?

  • The Indian Armed Forces began Operation Sindoor, a coordinated precision strike operation, on May 7, 2025, in response to the terror incident in Pahalgam.
  • It was carried out from Indian territory with the combined resources of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
  • The name of this operation was chosen as a personal homage to the victims, especially the widows of the Pahalgam assault, in contrast to previous operations with aggressive titles intended to represent power.

What are the Targeted Sites of Operation Sindoor?

  • The Indian Armed Forces conducted ‘Operation Sindoor,’ targeting terrorist organizations associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan and PoJK.
  • The goal of these operations was to destroy the terrorist networks that were being utilized to plot attacks against India.
Target Sites of Operation Sindoor

What High-Precision Weapons Involved in Operation Sindoor?

  • SCALP Cruise Missile
    • “Storm Shadow” is an air-launched, long-range journey rocket, or SCALP for brief. It was utilized for profound, exact strikes on settled, high-value targets, counting as crucial framework and settled in positions inside adversary region.
    • The European defense company MBDA developed it.
    • Advanced fighter planes such as the Rafale are usually used for this purpose.
    • The missile has been deployed in combat situations, such as operations in Syria, Libya, and Iraq. Ukraine has also received the missile for use in targeted attacks against enemy targets.
SCALP_Cruise_Missile
  • HAMMER Precision-Guided Bomb
    • Targets needing medium-range accuracy, such dynamic or movable terrorist locations, were targeted with the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) missile.
    • Developed by French defense firm Safran Electronics & Defense.
    • HAMMER may be equipped with a number of guiding systems, including as laser targeting, GPS, and infrared imaging, which makes it adaptable to a variety of targets.
HAMMER Precision-Guided Bomb
  • Loitering Munitions
    • Loitering Munitions, also referred to as “kamikaze drones,” are employed for target engagement and reconnaissance, hovering over enemy territory prior to carrying out precise attacks.
    • They give flexibility and lower operator risk by providing real-time intelligence, operating over extended periods of time, and making independent judgments about whether to engage.
Operation Sindoor

What are the Past Military Operations by India against Pakistan?

  • Operation Riddle (1965 Indo-Pak War)
    • In 1965, when Pakistan crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and invaded Jammu and Kashmir, India responded with Operation Gibraltar and Grand Slam.
  • Operation Ablaze (1965 Indo-Pak War)
    • Rising tensions along the India-Pakistan border, especially in the Rann of Kutch, led to the Indian Army’s preemptive mobilization in April 1965.
    • Even though there was no direct fighting, it showed that India was prepared militarily and paved the way for the full-scale conflict that started in August 1965.
    • The Tashkent Assention (1966) was the result of the operation and Operation Enigma, which helped in driving Pakistan back.
  • Operation Cactus Lily (1971 Indo-Pak War)
    • During the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Indian Army and Air Force launched an air attack.
    • It was carried out in December 1971 and included moving toward Dhaka, avoiding a Pakistani stronghold at Ashuganj/Bhairab Bazar, and crossing the Meghna River.
  • Operations Trident and Python (1971)
    • These are Indian Navy offensives on the port of Karachi, Pakistan, in the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
    • Anti-ship missiles were first used in the area during Operation Trident. Bangladesh was established and Pakistan was defeated as a result of these actions.
  • Operation Meghdoot (1984)
    • Under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, India began Operation Meghdoot on April 13, 1984, gaining control of the Saltoro Ridge and Siachen Glacier, including vital passes like Sia La and Bilafond La.
  • Operation Vijay (1999)
    • During the Kargil War, it was India’s military effort to retake land that Pakistani forces had taken.
    • India won because it was successful in forcing Pakistani forces to leave.
  • Operation Safed Sagar (1999 Kargil conflict)
    • The IAF used airstrikes to drive Pakistani soldiers out of Indian positions near the Line of Control. It was the first time air power has been used on a big basis since 1971.
    • All of India’s important heights in Kargil were effectively reclaimed thanks to the operation.
  • 2016 Surgical Strikes
    • Indian special forces responded to the Uri incident by launching the surgical strikes. In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the operation targeted terrorist launch platforms located throughout the Line of Control.
  • Operation Bandar (2019 Balakot air strikes)
    • In reaction to the attack on a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
    • A Jaish-e-Mohammed training center in Balakot, Pakistan, was the target of airstrikes by the Indian Air Force.
    • There were short aerial clashes between India and Pakistan as a result of this operation, which was the first airstrike across the LoC since 1971.

Conclusion 

Operation Sindoor, launched by India in 2025 following the Pahalgam terrorist incident, targeted key terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK. Led by military officials like Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, it aimed to neutralize threats with precision strikes using advanced weaponry like SCALP missiles and loitering munitions. Named in homage to the victims, it represents India’s strategic response to regional security challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What is Operation Sindoor?

    The Indian Armed Forces conducted Operation Sindoor as a retaliatory action on May 7, 2025, in response to the terrorist assault in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 26 people. Precision attacks were used against terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

  • Why was it called “Operation Sindoor”?

    The term “Operation Sindoor” alludes to the Hindu married ladies who were among those killed in the Pahalgam assault. Hindu married women traditionally wear sindoors (vermillion) to indicate the presence of their husbands. The name honors the victims, especially the widows, and emphasizes India’s determination to get revenge for their loss. Since sindoor is also a mark typically worn by warriors, it also quietly communicates India’s power and will.

  • When did Operation Sindoor take place?

    Between between 1:05 AM and 1:30 AM IST on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the strikes were carried out.

  • Why was Operation Sindoor launched?

    Operation Sindoor was a direct reaction to the savage terrorist assault in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, in which terrorists with training from Pakistan ruthlessly killed 26 innocent citizens, including tourists. The operation’s goals were to discourage future cross-border terrorism and bring the attack’s architects and perpetrators to justice. Even though it has been two weeks since the Pahalgam incident, the Indian government said that Pakistan has not taken any concrete action to combat terrorist infrastructure on Pakistan’s territory or in the PoK. Additionally, intelligence pointed to upcoming strikes.

  • What weapons were used in Operation Sindoor?

    Although the precise weaponry employed are not made public, sources indicate that the Indian Air Force utilized sophisticated precision-guided munitions. Cruise missiles, precision-guided bombs, and maybe lingering weapons for precise targeting were among them.

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