Operation Sindoor: In a powerful address in Gandhinagar on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that Pakistan is terrified after India’s Operation Sindoor, which saw the Indian armed forces launch deep-penetration precision strikes against terror camps 100 kilometres inside Pakistani territory.
Calling it a landmark moment in India’s counterterrorism efforts, Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bold leadership for giving Pakistan a “befitting reply” that has stunned the international community.
“Operation Sindoor Sent a Message to the World”
“Since assuming power, PM Modi has responded to terrorism in a way that the world is amazed and Pakistan is scared,” Shah told a large crowd while inaugurating development projects in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.
He elaborated on Operation Sindoor, describing it as a massive military success where nine terror launchpads belonging to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were completely destroyed in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK).
“These were training camps and hideouts, and we eliminated them. Over 100 terrorists were killed,” he said, adding that the operation struck 100 km deep into Pakistan, making it one of India’s most daring cross-border counterterror operations in recent times.
India’s Air Defence “Flawless,” Says Shah
In addition to the strikes, Shah also praised India’s modernized air defence system, which he claimed has neutralized threats from Pakistan, including drones and missiles.
“When Pakistan dared to attack along the Western border, not a single missile or drone made it into Indian territory thanks to our advanced air defence system,” Shah noted, reinforcing confidence in India’s growing military strength.
He further revealed that in retaliation for Pakistan’s attempts to escalate, India targeted 15 air bases belonging to Pakistan’s military infrastructure. “We didn’t harm civilians. We destroyed their capability to launch an air attack,” he emphasized.
Backdrop: Response to the Pahalgam Terror Attack
Operation Sindoor was reportedly launched in the early hours of May 7, as a direct response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which had claimed the lives of Indian security personnel and civilians.
Shah said the operation reflected three core strengths of India under Modi’s leadership:
- Firm political will
- Unmatched intelligence coordination
- Precision strike capability of the Indian armed forces
The mission aimed to cripple the infrastructure supporting cross-border terrorism and send a strong message to hostile elements operating within Pakistan.
India-Pakistan Agree to Pause, But Future Tense
Following the military escalation, both India and Pakistan agreed on May 10 to halt further military actions, according to official sources. However, India has clarified that the pause is temporary and its future responses will depend on Pakistan’s behaviour.
“We have just paused. We have not ended our resolve,” a senior Indian defence official was quoted as saying.
Growing Confidence in India’s Military Power
Operation Sindoor marks another chapter in India’s evolving doctrine of preemptive and retaliatory strikes. It also reflects the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism and cross-border infiltration.
As regional tensions remain high, and with elections and geopolitical shifts unfolding across the subcontinent, Shah’s remarks reaffirm India’s position: terrorism will not be tolerated, and any threats to national security will be dealt with decisively.
