In a bold departure from previous military operations, Operation Sindoor marked India’s most technologically advanced and expansive cross-border strike to date. Unlike the limited objectives of the 2016 Uri surgical strikes or the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, this mission targeted deep terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), signaling a new doctrine of preemptive and far-reaching action.

Launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists, the strikes aimed not just at retaliation but at crippling operational nodes of terror networks like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Nine sites across PoK and Pakistan—including Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, and Kotli—were hit with a coordinated barrage of 24 precision-guided strikes.

Over 70 militants were reportedly neutralised and dozens injured. Targets were chosen following weeks of surveillance using satellite imagery, UAVs, human intelligence, and signal intercepts. Facilities struck included arms depots, indoctrination centers, command posts, and training modules.

The operation demonstrated integrated use of land, air, and naval platforms. The Indian Air Force deployed Rafale jets equipped with SCALP (Storm Shadow) cruise missiles—capable of striking fortified bunkers from over 250 km away—and HAMMER smart bombs against high-value urban targets. Loitering munitions or kamikaze drones were used for real-time surveillance and dynamic strikes on mobile assets.

Supported by mid-air refuellers and airborne early-warning aircraft, the strikes were executed in under an hour with complete precision. “Every site was hit. The message is clear—no sanctuary is beyond reach,” said a senior government official.

Operation Sindoor underlines a critical shift: India now reserves the right to act beyond traditional limits, combining technological superiority with strategic resolve.

In a bold departure from previous military operations, Operation Sindoor marked India’s most technologically advanced and expansive cross-border strike to date. Unlike the limited objectives of the 2016 Uri surgical strikes or the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, this mission targeted deep terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), signaling a new doctrine of preemptive and far-reaching action.

Launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists, the strikes aimed not just at retaliation but at crippling operational nodes of terror networks like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Nine sites across PoK and Pakistan—including Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, and Kotli—were hit with a coordinated barrage of 24 precision-guided strikes.

Over 70 militants were reportedly neutralised and dozens injured. Targets were chosen following weeks of surveillance using satellite imagery, UAVs, human intelligence, and signal intercepts. Facilities struck included arms depots, indoctrination centers, command posts, and training modules.

The operation demonstrated integrated use of land, air, and naval platforms. The Indian Air Force deployed Rafale jets equipped with SCALP (Storm Shadow) cruise missiles—capable of striking fortified bunkers from over 250 km away—and HAMMER smart bombs against high-value urban targets. Loitering munitions or kamikaze drones were used for real-time surveillance and dynamic strikes on mobile assets.

Supported by mid-air refuellers and airborne early-warning aircraft, the strikes were executed in under an hour with complete precision. “Every site was hit. The message is clear—no sanctuary is beyond reach,” said a senior government official.

Operation Sindoor underlines a critical shift: India now reserves the right to act beyond traditional limits, combining technological superiority with strategic resolve.