‘Operation Sindoor’ is the proclamation of a new strategic consciousness

The way India has responded to Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack is making headlines all over the world, because the difference in India's retaliation this time is that India's response is no longer limited to political condemnation or diplomatic pressure. The military action taken by India after the way terrorists killed 26 innocent tourists in Pahalgam is not only a direct challenge to Pakistan, but also a declaration of a clear strategic change, because this time the retaliation is widespread.

From the 1990s to 2008, India gave priority to restraint and diplomacy in response to terrorist attacks. Be it the 2001 Parliament attack or the 2008 Mumbai attack, in both cases India did not choose the path of war and adopted the strategy of cornering Pakistan through the international community. This policy seemed appropriate at the time when India was building its image on the global stage, but the adverse result of this defensive diplomacy was that Pakistan-based terrorist organizations kept getting indirect freedom to target India again and again.

The real change in India's policy happened after the Uri attack in 2016. Through the 'surgical strike', India destroyed terrorist camps for the first time by crossing the Line of Control. After the Pulwama attack in 2019, the 'Balakot airstrike' made India's military approach even more clear, but now India is ready to adopt the 'action first' strategy. 'Operation Sindoor' is the third and most daring link of this strategic development so far. For the first time, India targeted the interior of Pakistan, i.e. its so-called heartland, i.e. Punjab province. This was not only a military action, but also a strategic statement, that is, we will strike where we want.

Experts link this new policy of India to the policy of America and Israel, where direct military response is given as soon as a security threat is identified. India's message is now clear that we will no longer wait for attacks, we will take action. Under this policy, India no longer waits for the approval of the Security Council or global support. He trusts his intelligence sources and keeps all options open, this creates fear in the minds of the enemies and this is the real purpose of 'deterrence'.

Both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. For decades, it has been argued that the policy of 'mutually assured destruction' prevents the possibility of any war, but India's recent behavior exposes the limitations of this theory. India now believes that the fear of nuclear weapons is irrelevant to deter terrorist attacks. Unless Pakistan is in a position to wage a full-blown war, it will not resort to the nuclear option. There is also a reality behind this that India's military, economic and diplomatic capabilities are far stronger than Pakistan.

According to the SIPRI (2024) report, both countries have almost equal number of nuclear warheads. India has 172, and Pakistan has 170 nuclear warheads, but India's military infrastructure, radar system, missile defense, and satellite network are far more sophisticated than Pakistan. In the last decade, India has established its position on the global stage very strongly. Whether it is the presidency of G20, the activism of Quad or strategic investments in Africa and Central Asia, India is now not only an emerging economy but also a reliable security partner.

After 'Operation Sindoor', countries like America, France and Australia appealed to India to exercise restraint, but no one openly criticized this action. Its clear message is that the world is now accepting India as a nation that takes action in self-defense, and not as a fierce expansionist power. India is no longer just a nation that gives warnings, but has become a nation that sets an example by reacting. This policy is being called 'Deterrence by Doing'. This means that if you attack India, its response will not be mere rhetoric, but concrete action.

There was a time when India used to assess the response of the United Nations, America or other friendly nations before any military response, but now India has given place to self-reliance in its diplomacy. After Operation Sindoor, India did not move any emergency resolution in the United Nations, nor did it seek a green signal from the US for action. On the contrary, it acted on the basis of intelligence, and then publicly took responsibility for it. Operation Sindoor is not just a military response, but a proclamation of a new strategic consciousness. India has made it clear that if you target our citizens, we will reach your strategic depths. This policy not only reflects a change in India's military structure, but also redefines its global role. India has now become a nation that is sensitive, but not helpless. It is alert, but not passive.

This is the biggest question: will this aggressive resistance policy become India's permanent strategy? And will India limit it only to Pakistan, or will it apply it in other hostile situations as well? The future will answer this, but for now it is certain that India is no longer in the role of a 'complainant', but of a 'decisive'. And this role not only protects its interests but also gives a new direction to the global security balance. This change in India's policy is being reflected not just in words but in action. This is a clear message that now India will not just wait but will now lead.