Indian armed forces launched a military operation named ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’ targeting nine sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The operation is a direct retaliation of a recent militant suicide attack in Kashmir. The brutal assault resulted in the death of 26 Indian nationals and serious injury to 10 others. Meanwhile, the Indian military is receiving growing international praise for its precision strikes and restraint. State officials have recently sought to assure that the operation was targeted and limited in nature, not escalatory.
The strikes on [insert date] were unlike previous missile attacks as they included simultaneous missile strikes in three different areas. Pakistan media reports paint a harrowing picture of loud and repeated explosions thundering across the sprawling mountain region surrounding Muzaffarabad. That city is the current capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The explosion precipitated a city-wide blackout, plunging millions of residents in darkness and despair in the wake of a tragedy.
The Indian armed forces released the formal statement. They further derided that their operations were specifically targeted only to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, which plans and carries out terror attacks against India. They denied, outright, any claims that Pakistani military facilities were used in the operation. The view, if true, would be consistent with the BJP’s desire to keep things lowkey when it comes to addressing Indian concerns over cross-border terror.
The Indian army immediately adopted social media to broadcast messages congratulating their operation. Their signs projected potent messaging such as “Justice is Served” and “Jai Hind!” The hashtag #PahalgamTerrorAttack went viral across social media, referring to the deadly attack in Kashmir that triggered this massive military response. Indian authorities condemned the prior attack as “barbaric,” pointing to the need for decisive action against the fighters belonging to such militant groups.
A spokesperson for the Pakistani military confirmed to reporters the next day that both these missile strikes had happened, admitting to the strikes within Pakistan’s territory. This unexpected outreach has escalated the ongoing tensions between the two countries, with both sides on alert for possible new provocations.
Despite the contentious backdrop, Indian officials reiterated their decision to exercise considerable restraint when selecting targets and executing their military strategy. Their goal was to avoid escalation into a deeper war and have a wider regional conflict while providing security where it was needed most.