NEW DELHI, May 10: India launched "Operation Sindoor" against Pakistan and deployed female commanders to lead it. Colonel Sophia Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh shared details of the mission, declaring that India would wipe out those who erased the sindoor (vermillion) of the nation's daughters.
India empowered women to lead the fight against terrorism. During a press conference, the Ministry of Defense emphasized that women are at the forefront of the mission to eliminate groups targeting women's sindoor, reinforcing India's commitment to this cause.
India launched airstrikes under "Operation Sindoor" to avenge the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Indian forces targeted terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The military named the operation after sindoor, a symbol deeply rooted in Indian culture and tradition, aiming it at those who tried to destroy the sanctity of marital bliss.
Colonel Sophia confirmed that the operation destroyed nine terrorist hideouts. "We ensured that innocent civilians remained unharmed during the operation," she said, adding that the forces acted on intelligence gathered from various agencies with utmost seriousness to prevent collateral damage.
On April 22, a terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam killed 26 tourists, including one Nepali. Fifteen days after the attack, the Indian Army conducted airstrikes on nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan's Punjab and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
These locations were where the planning and execution of terrorist attacks in India took place. Both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have supported India's "Operation Sindoor." In this context, the government led by Narendra Modi has united the entire nation behind this operation.
The heartbreaking image
No one could have imagined that Indian Army Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and Himanshi, who had vowed to stay together for seven lifetimes, would part ways just seven days after their marriage. The couple, who had gone to Pahalgam for a sightseeing trip, had married only seven days earlier. They had no idea that this would be their last day together.
Lieutenant Vinay Narwal's wife, Himanshi, explained that they were sitting down to eat and drink when they suddenly heard gunshots.
"I told Vinay that I heard gunshots. A person next to me looked at Vinay and said, 'He's not even Muslim.' That person shot Vinay right then. Vinay fell," she recalled. "After that, the person told me, 'You better leave.' I screamed at him and asked many questions, but he just walked away quietly."
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This painful and tragic image has stirred widespread discussion across India.
Politician and author Shashi Tharoor praised the name ‘Operation Sindoor,’ saying, "The name is excellent and clearly chosen with great thought. Beyond its meaning, it's a striking name—'Operation Sindoor’ truly stands out. It immediately brings to mind the image of the woman weeping beside her husband, who was killed in Pahalgam just seven days after their wedding. ‘Sindoor’ is red, and it conveys a powerful message".
Chiefs of security agencies meet with Defence and Home Ministers
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah met with the chiefs of India's three armed forces on Friday to assess the latest developments following missile strikes by Indian armed forces on terrorist hideouts in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK), and to streamline internal security management.
According to Indian media, the ministers formed a joint defense services team to review ongoing operations and strategize for the future. The Indian government also issued a nationwide travel advisory to alert and caution citizens.
On April 22, terrorists launched an attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley in India-administered Kashmir, killing 26 people, including 27-year-old Nepali national Sudip Neupane. The Resistance Front (TRF), a radical religious group, claimed responsibility for the attack. TRF reportedly operates with ties to the Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, which receives backing from Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Authorities consider Bahawalpur a key stronghold of another terrorist group, Jaish-e-Mohammed.
India named its retaliatory strike “Operation Sindoor,” adding a new chapter to the ongoing military tensions between India and Pakistan.
India claims that The Resistance Front (TRF), which took responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, operates as a proxy wing of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. India has directly accused Pakistan of providing indirect support for the attack—an allegation Pakistan has firmly denied. The escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident have raised fears of broader instability across Asia and the wider world. Countries like the UK, France, and Russia have voiced concern over the growing conflict.
Repeated tensions and wars
India and Pakistan fought their first war in 1947, also known as the First Kashmir War. The newly independent nations of India and Pakistan clashed over the control of Jammu and Kashmir, a region disputed after the partition of India. The war lasted until 1949, when the United Nations brokered a ceasefire. As a result, Jammu and Kashmir was divided—India controlled one part, and Pakistan controlled the other.
The second India-Pakistan war occurred in 1965. On August 5, 1965, the two nations once again went to war over Kashmir. Pakistani soldiers, disguised as local insurgents, crossed the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and infiltrated Indian territory. In response, India launched military operations, escalating the conflict into a full-scale war across international borders. The war continued until September 23, 1965, when both sides agreed to a ceasefire facilitated by the Soviet Union and the United States.
India and Pakistan fought again in 1971, which led to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation. In 1999, the two countries engaged in the Kargil War, lasting from May to July. The conflict began when Pakistani forces and terrorists seized strategic peaks in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir. India responded by launching military operations, successfully reclaiming the area.
On September 18, 2016, a terrorist attack on an Indian Army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 19 soldiers. In retaliation, India executed a surgical strike across the Line of Control on September 28-29.
After Indian forces targeted terrorist hideouts in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK), they neutralized a significant number of terrorists. Three years later, on February 26, 2019, in response to the Pulwama terrorist attack, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training camp in Balakot, Pakistan.
Airport closures
After India launched "Operation Sindoor" against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated. In preparation for potential attacks from Pakistan, India placed airports across the country on high alert.
India closed several airports and announced that it may conduct military operations from any of them. Airports in Srinagar, Leh, Chandigarh, Jammu, Amritsar, Shimla, Gwalior, Jodhpur, Bhatinda, Bhuj, Dharamsala, and 20 other locations suspended civilian flights until Saturday. Pakistan also closed the Karachi and Lahore airports.
Sufficient fuel
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) announced on Friday that it holds enough fuel reserves across the country and assured citizens that there is no need for panic. "Indian Oil has sufficient fuel stock across the country, and our supply lines are operating smoothly," the corporation posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account. The post also reassured the public, saying, "There is no need to panic; fuel and LPG are easily available at all our outlets."
Border villages evacuated
The conflict between India and Pakistan continues. On Friday, authorities issued an airstrike alert for Chandigarh in Punjab and Ambala in Haryana. The Indian Army's Western Command is located in Chandigarh, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) office is also based there. Ambala hosts an Air Force station. According to the ‘Hindustan Times’online edition, authorities evacuated all border villages in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, located about 20 kilometers from the Pakistan border, for safety. Jaisalmer also houses a military post. ‘India TV’ reported that authorities evacuated border villages near Pakistan as well.
India evacuated its villages after Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks on 11 locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan on Thursday night. In response, Pakistan evacuated its border villages, anticipating possible retaliation. Pakistani suicide drones reportedly targeted Jammu airport and the Pathankot Air Force station, according to Indian media. All educational institutions, including schools and colleges in Ambala, have been shut down, media reports say.
Target locations
India attacked nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chak Swari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum, and Chakwal. Indian intelligence agencies had been monitoring these sites for an extended period, so the targets were not chosen randomly. In ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Indian Air Force, Navy, and Army coordinated their efforts. The operation deployed air-launched cruise missiles, HAMMER-guided bombs, and loitering munitions.
Social media ‘X’ blocked
As tensions with Pakistan escalate, the Indian government has urged the media to exercise sensitivity. The government blocked the news portal ‘The Wire,’ citing its lack of sensitivity to the ongoing conflict. The internet service provider notified ‘The Wire’ that the block was imposed under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's order.
‘X’ reported that the Indian government directed the blocking of 8,000 ‘X’ handles in India. It also restricted access to several foreign media outlets and public figures' ‘X’ handles. The Ministry of Defense has instructed media channels, digital platforms, and individuals to refrain from broadcasting military activities live.
Pakistan's claim
Pakistan claims it has been responding appropriately to every attack from India. In response to India's claim of a drone attack on Pakistan, the Pakistani military asserts it shot down several Indian drones.
Pakistan states it downed 25 Israeli-made "Harop drones" that India allegedly used in the attack. The Pakistani military made this claim in a press release issued on Thursday. Additionally, the Pakistani military claims it shot down five Indian fighter jets on Wednesday.
