In the early hours of May 7, 2025, Indian Air Force jets crossed into Pakistani airspace, fired their missiles, destroyed targets, and turned back — all within 23 minutes.
By morning, nine terror camps were rubble, over 100 militants were dead, striking deep into Pakistan's heartland, including Punjab province and Bahawalpur, once considered out of bounds even for US drones.
The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force worked in full coordination, demonstrating India's growing joint military prowess.
The Trigger
On April 22, 2025, terror struck Pahalgam. Pakistan-backed attackers stormed a village, asked people their religion, and killed 26 of them. The government conceived 'Operation Sindoor' to punish the perpetrators and planners of the attack and to destroy the terror infrastructure across the border that had enabled it.
Intelligence agencies began what it described as a microscopic scan of the terror landscape, identifying numerous camps and training sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The Strike
The Indian Air Force completed its mission in 23 minutes using Rafale jets, SCALP missiles, and HAMMER bombs, bypassing and jamming Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defence systems. Nine major terror launchpads were destroyed — targeting facilities of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Over 100 terrorists were killed in action. The strikes reached as far as Bahawalpur — territory once considered out of bounds even for US drones. Among those killed were Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudassir Ahmad — individuals linked to the IC-814 hijacking and the Pulwama blast.
At a press briefing on May 7, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the response as focused, measured, and non-escalatory, specifically stating that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted — while warning that any attack on Indian military targets would invite a suitable response.
Pakistan retaliated with drones and artillery. Following that, India escalated in response. On May 9 and 10, India struck 11 Pakistani airbases in a single operation, destroying radar installations in Lahore and near Gujranwala, and inflicting casualties at Bhoolari Airbase including the death of Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf.
20% of Pakistan's air force assets were destroyed. India's own multi-layered air defence, including the indigenous Akashteer system, shot down hundreds of drones and missiles fired by Pakistan during the conflict.
The Ceasefire
The escalation ended abruptly. Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations called the Indian DGMO, and both sides agreed to stop all firing and military action on land, in the air, and at sea, with effect from 1700 hours IST on May 10.
Even after the ceasefire, waves of UAVs and small drones intruded into Indian civilian and military areas — all of which were successfully intercepted. Foreign Secretary Misri, across briefings on May 8, 9, and 10, laid out India's position and what it described as the full extent of Pakistan's designs.
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Beyond The Battlefield
The military campaign was accompanied by a sweeping set of non-military measures. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with immediate effect — a significant move given that the Indus river system supports 237 million people and contributes one-fourth of Pakistan's GDP through crops like wheat, rice, and cotton.
India also closed the Attari-Wagah border, halted all bilateral trade, revoked visas of all Pakistani nationals in the country, imposed a ban on Pakistani artists and cultural exchanges, and reduced the strength of Pakistan's High Commission in New Delhi from 55 to 30.
#OperationSindoor
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 7, 2026
India's resolute response calibrated and precise.
Committed to safeguarding sovereignty and its people.#JusticeServed
Jai Hind. pic.twitter.com/fegLXxMJjm
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PM Modi's Statement
Marking one year of the operation, the Prime Minister praised the courage, precision and professionalism of the Indian armed forces in responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. PM Modi on Thursday said Operation Sindoor reflected India's firm response against terrorism and reaffirmed the country's commitment to protecting national security.
A year ago, our armed forces displayed unparalleled courage, precision and resolve during #OperationSindoor. They gave a fitting response to those who dared to attack innocent Indians at Pahalgam. The entire nation salutes our forces for their valour.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 7, 2026
Operation Sindoor reflected…
A year after the strikes, the ceasefire broadly holds. The Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended, the Attari border has not reopened, and the diplomatic fallout between the two nuclear-armed neighbours continues to shape the region's politics.
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