New Delhi, May 7, 2025 — In a powerful message of grief and resolve, India launched “Operation Sindoor” early Tuesday morning in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 28 civilians, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali tourist. The operation targeted nine terrorist camps deep within Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and its name carries more than military intent—it carries mourning.
The attack in Baisaran Valley saw heavily armed militants open fire on Hindu tourists, most of them newlywed couples. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility, calling it a protest against non-local settlement in Kashmir. Though the group later retracted its claim, the damage was done—India was grieving, and the government vowed a response.
That response came on May 7. In a tightly coordinated mission involving the Army, Air Force, and Navy, Indian forces struck militant training facilities, logistics camps, and command centers across nine locations, including Muridke and Bahawalpur. Officials emphasized that the strikes were precise, avoiding civilian and military Pakistani infrastructure.
But it was the name—“Sindoor”—that defined the operation’s soul. In Hindu tradition, sindoor is the red vermilion worn in the hair parting of married women, symbolizing the presence and protection of a husband. Many victims of the Pahalgam massacre were honeymooning couples. Their deaths left behind not just national sorrow but young widows, for whom the sindoor now marks not joy, but loss.
By naming the operation “Sindoor,” India paid tribute to these women and to every family devastated by terrorism. It turned a military maneuver into a cultural statement—a vow that the blood spilled would not be forgotten, and that national mourning would be met with national resolve.
The strikes have heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Islamabad has condemned the operation as an act of war and claimed civilian casualties, while India insists the strikes were limited, proportionate, and focused solely on eliminating terror infrastructure. Global powers, including the U.S. and U.N., have urged restraint amid fears of escalation.
Domestically, the operation has drawn strong support across political lines. Leaders have praised the symbolism and strategic clarity of “Operation Sindoor,” calling it both a tribute to the fallen and a message to those who threaten India’s sovereignty.
