“India Stands United”: Operation Sindoor Draws Rare Political Consensus Amid Terror Crisis

New Delhi | May 7, 2025 — In a rare and resolute display of political unity, opposition parties across India have extended full support to the armed forces and the government’s decisive military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The cross-party backing of Operation Sindoor, India’s precision airstrike campaign targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, signals a collective stance against terrorism at a moment of deep national grief.

The April 22 attack in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 28 civilians — including 25 Indian nationals and a Nepali tourist — many of them honeymooning couples. The brutality of the attack and its symbolic wound on Indian society prompted a swift retaliation. Early on May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking nine high-value terror hubs.

“Proud of Our Forces”: Unified Voices From the Opposition
The political landscape, often marked by intense rivalries, momentarily transformed into a platform of solidarity. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hailed the strikes as a bold and necessary step. “We are extremely proud of our Indian Armed Forces who have struck terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. We applaud their resolute resolve and courage,” he said in a public statement.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed the sentiment with a brief yet powerful message: “Proud of our Armed Forces. Jai Hind!” Leaders from the Samajwadi Party and NCP-SP also voiced their support, emphasizing the importance of standing united when national security is at stake.

This bipartisan consensus sends a firm message — that acts of terror will not fracture India internally but instead reinforce its resolve as one nation.

Strategic Clarity and a Message of Deterrence
The political support surrounding Operation Sindoor also carries strategic weight. It legitimizes the government’s approach to counter-terrorism and reinforces India’s evolving doctrine of pre-emptive and proportionate strikes beyond its borders.

By choosing to focus solely on non-state terror infrastructure — avoiding Pakistani military targets — India emphasized its intent to deter terrorism without escalating into full-scale war. The political backing of this approach adds moral weight and national legitimacy.

Yet, the unity comes with caution. Political voices also urged the government to be vigilant in managing international ramifications. With both India and Pakistan on high alert, and global powers calling for restraint, the path forward must balance strength with diplomacy.

Sindoor: A Symbol of Grief, Strength, and Justice
The name Operation Sindoor, chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has struck a chord nationwide. “Those who erase sindoor will be wiped out without a trace,” Modi said, encapsulating the emotional and symbolic essence of the operation. Sindoor — the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women — became a metaphor for the shattered lives of newlyweds killed in the Pahalgam attack, and for the nation’s protective fury.

Operation Sindoor has transcended military objectives. It has become a national moment of reckoning, of standing together — across political lines — to say that the cost of spilling innocent blood will be met with unwavering justice.