India awoke to news of a powerful response this week: "Operation Sindoor", a swift and strategic counterstrike by the Indian Armed Forces. In the early hours of Wednesday, precision airstrikes were carried out across nine terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK), marking a decisive retaliation for the severe terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 innocent lives.
What is Operation Sindoor?
Exactly two weeks after the tragic attack on tourists in Pahalgam, India launched targeted airstrikes on terror hubs believed to be involved in directing attacks against the country. The strikes targeted facilities belonging to the banned terror packs Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen, groups long recognised for their extremist activities. The Indian Air Force hit key sites, including Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur and Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad, among others.
Indian officials emphasised that the operation was a calibrated response, carefully planned to avoid escalation with Pakistan's military. No Pakistani defence installations were targeted, underlining the precision and purpose of the mission.
Why name it 'Operation Sindoor'?
While the operation's military execution was meticulous, its name, Operation Sindoor, struck an emotional chord across the nation. Sindoor, or vermilion, holds deep cultural significance in India, symbolising marital commitment when worn by Hindu women. The name serves as a poignant tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam attack, particularly honouring the women who lost their partners in the violence.
In a striking visual released by the Indian Army, the word "Sindoor" is stylised with one of its letters, a letter 'O', depicted as a bowl of spilled vermilion, representing the emotional toll of the attack and the weight of the loss suffered by families.
The choice of name, reportedly approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, humanises the counterstrike, ensuring that the lives lost are not reduced to mere numbers but remembered as part of a collective national memory.
