Operation Sindoor and India's Counter-Terror Doctrine
Operation Sindoor (May 6-7, 2025) represented a significant evolution in India's approach to cross-border terrorism — moving from strategic restraint to targeted precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure while explicitly avoiding Pakistani military or civilian facilities. It drew on the precedent of the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, representing a further escalation in India's declared doctrine.
- The April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack killed 26 civilians (mostly tourists); The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility.
- Operation Sindoor comprised missile strikes lasting approximately 23 minutes, targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.
- Pakistan responded with "Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos," targeting Indian military bases; it was the first drone-warfare engagement between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
- A ceasefire came into effect on May 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM IST, following DGMO-level communication.
- India framed the operation as consistent with the right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter against non-state actors operating from foreign territory.
● Tracked since February 25, 2026 · last seen May 12, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
See it in today’s brief.
Daily current affairs with every static concept explained in place.
Read the daily brief