India has carried out precision cross-border strikes under Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which left multiple civilians dead. With its May 7 airstrikes, India emphasized that the operations were deliberately non-escalatory and focused solely on eliminating terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
India’s Calibrated Response to Terror
According to the Indian Defence Ministry, the operation avoided targeting any Pakistani military or civilian infrastructure. The official X handle stated, “No Pakistani military facilities were hit, reflecting India’s calibrated and non-escalatory approach.”
The strikes are seen as a continuation of India’s long-standing policy to retaliate against terror attacks, as seen in the 2019 Balakot airstrikes and the 2016 Uri surgical strikes. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously vowed justice after the Pahalgam massacre, stating, “We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.”
Pakistan’s Reaction and Diplomatic Narrative
Despite India’s caution, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the missile strikes an “act of war” and warned of a “befitting reply”. Pakistan claimed civilian casualties and threatened commercial aviation risks, a narrative that India has strongly denied. The Embassy of India in Washington, DC issued a statement saying, “Only known terror camps were targeted. No civilian or economic sites were involved.”
This diplomatic contrast underscores the geopolitical tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India has moved swiftly to assert its narrative globally, refusing to let Pakistan gain sympathy as a victim.
Prepared, But Not Provoking: India’s Message
India’s strategic restraint is clear. No military or economic infrastructure in Pakistan was hit. Instead, the message was direct: this was a targeted response to terror, not an invitation to war. However, India is not taking chances. It has begun military drills across its Air Force and Navy and is set to conduct a nationwide civil defence drill—the first of its kind since the 1971 war.
With General Asim Munir seen as the true power center in Pakistan, India is bracing for any retaliatory misadventure that may be driven by internal military politics.
Operation Sindoor: India’s New Strategic Doctrine?
The May 7 airstrikes, dubbed Operation Sindoor, represent not just a retaliation, but a refinement in India’s military doctrine: high-precision, low-escalation, and diplomatically assertive. With multiple Pakistani missile tests following the strike, regional tensions are clearly on the rise.
Still, India’s message is clear: “Do not escalate.”
For live updates on the situation, visit the India Today news portal and the Ministry of Defence.