Why Operation Sindoor Marks A New Era In India’s Military Strategy

Operation Sindoor is being seen as a strategic turning point — not just for its scale, but for what it signals. Unlike previous retaliatory operations such as the 2016 Uri surgical strikes or the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, India’s latest offensive was expansive, technologically advanced, and the deepest military incursion into Pakistan’s heartland since the 1971 war.

The strikes followed the April 22 terror attack near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed. Indian intelligence agencies traced the attack to Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Now, two weeks later, India has executed Operation Sindoor, aimed not only as a show of strength, but as a mission to dismantle the terror infrastructure that supports such attacks. India and Pakistan continue to face-off along a heavily militarised 740-km Line of Control.

Early Wednesday, nine targets were struck across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in a single day — Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum, and Chakwal. With 24 confirmed missile strikes, this was India’s most extensive single-day precision assault in modern history.

Operation Sindoor was a coordinated tri-services strike involving the Indian Air Force, Navy and Army. The arsenal included SCALP (Storm Shadow) cruise missiles with a range of over 250 km, HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) precision-guided bombs, and loitering munitions — kamikaze drones capable of real-time surveillance and dynamic targeting.

Air-launched weapons were deployed from deep inside Indian territory, aided by mid-air refuelling systems and airborne early-warning aircraft. These weren’t just retaliatory blasts — they were pin-point, infrastructure-degrading strikes aimed at bunkers, training centres and mobile terror convoys.

Operation Sindoor is a departure from India’s previous limited, theatre-specific responses. This was the first time Indian forces struck deep inside Pakistan’s own territory — not just within disputed borders. The operation underscores a clear shift in India’s strategic doctrine, one that’s now more proactive, precise, and comprehensive.

The fallout has been swift. India has downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty — a critical, decades-old water-sharing agreement. Pakistan responded by shutting its airspace to Indian aircraft and halting cross-border trade, although trade volumes were already minimal.

The airspace closure is disrupting Indian aviation, with flights to Europe and the US now taking longer detours. Meanwhile, tourism to Kashmir — which had been picking up — is expected to decline again.

Historically, Indian markets have reacted with initial jitters during such military events — from the 1999 Kargil conflict to the 2019 Balakot strike. But in most cases, the equity indices rebounded quickly. This time, too, while the Nifty and Sensex opened lower on Wednesday, foreign investors remained net buyers — marking their 14th straight session of inflows.

Bernstein analysts say the ‘buy-the-dip’ strategy could prove sound once again, especially if the situation doesn’t spiral into prolonged conflict.

Catch live updates on Operation Sindoor here.