Operation Sindoor

• 07 May 2025

Source: PIB 

Why in News?  

India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack, targeting 9 terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). 

• Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi led the Indian government's briefing about the operation.  

What is Operation Sindoor? 

• About: Operation Sindoor was a coordinated precision strike operation launched by the Indian Armed Forces on 7th May 2025, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. 
  • It was executed through the coordinated efforts of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, conducted from Indian territory. 
  • Unlike past operations with aggressive names meant to project strength, this operation’s name was chosen as a personal tribute to the victims, particularly the widows of the Pahalgam attack. 
• Targets: Under 'Operation Sindoor,' the Indian Armed Forces targeted terror facilities linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan and PoJK. 
  • These strikes aimed to dismantle terrorist infrastructure used for planning attacks against India.  

• High-Precision Weapons Involved in Operation Sindoor: Indian Air Force (IAF) used advanced systems like SCALP Cruise Missiles, HAMMER Precision-Guided Bombs, and Loitering Munitions to carry out these operations with high accuracy and minimal collateral damage. 
  • SCALP Cruise Missile: SCALP stands for "Storm Shadow", a long-range, air-launched cruise missile. It was used for deep, precision strikes against high-value, fixed targets, including fortified positions and critical infrastructure in enemy territory. 
    • Manufacturer: Developed by MBDA, a European defense firm. 
    • Launch Platform: Typically deployed from advanced fighter jets like the Rafale. 
    • Combat Use: The missile has been used in combat scenarios, including operations in Iraq, Libya, and Syria, and also supplied to Ukraine for precision strikes against enemy positions. 

• HAMMER Precision-Guided Bomb: The HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) missile was used to engage targets requiring medium-range precision, such as dynamic or mobile terrorist sites. 
  • Manufacturer: Developed by Safran Electronics & Defense, a French defense company. 
  • Key Features: HAMMER can be fitted with various guidance systems, including GPS, infrared imaging, and laser targeting, making it versatile against different targets. 

• Loitering Munitions: Also known as "kamikaze drones", Loitering Munitions are used for surveillance and target engagement, loitering over enemy territory before executing precision strikes. 
  • Key Advantages: They provide real-time intelligence and can operate over extended periods and can make autonomous decisions on when to engage, offering flexibility and reducing the risk to operators. 

                                 

What are the Past Military Operations by India against Pakistan? 

• Operation Riddle (1965 Indo-Pak War): It was India’s response to Pakistan’s Operation Gibraltar and Grand Slam in 1965, following Pakistan's violation of the Line of Control (LoC) and entry into Jammu and Kashmir.  
• Operation Ablaze (1965 Indo-Pak War): It was a pre-emptive mobilisation by the Indian Army in April 1965, triggered by rising tensions along the India-Pakistan border, particularly in the Rann of Kutch.  
  • While it did not lead to immediate combat, it demonstrated India's military readiness, setting the stage for the full-scale war that began in August 1965. 
  • The operation, along with Operation Riddle, helped push back Pakistan and led to the Tashkent Agreement (1966). 
• Operation Cactus Lily (1971 Indo-Pak War): It was an air assault operation by the Indian Army and Air Force during the Bangladesh Liberation War.  
  • Conducted in December 1971, it involved crossing the Meghna River, bypassing a Pakistani stronghold at Ashuganj/Bhairab Bazar, and advancing towards Dhaka. 
• Operations Trident and Python (1971): These are Indian Navy offensive operations on Pakistan’s Karachi port during the Indo-Pak War, 1971.  
  • Operation Trident, was the first use of anti-ship missiles in the region. These operations contributed to Pakistan's defeat and the creation of Bangladesh. 
• Operation Meghdoot (1984): On 13th April 1984, under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, India launched Operation Meghdoot, securing control of the Siachen Glacier and Saltoro Ridge, including key passes like Bilafond La and Sia La. 
• Operation Vijay (1999): It was India's military operation to reclaim territory occupied by Pakistani forces during the Kargil War.  
  • It successfully forced Pakistani troops to withdraw, leading to India's victory. 
• Operation Safed Sagar (1999 Kargil conflict): It involved IAF launching airstrikes to dislodge Pakistani troops from Indian positions along the LoC. It was the first large-scale use of air power since 1971.  
  • The operation successfully helped India regain all strategic heights in Kargil. 
• 2016 Surgical Strikes: The surgical strikes were conducted by Indian special forces in response to the Uri attack. The operation targeted terrorist launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. 
• Operation Bandar (2019 Balakot air strikes): In response to the 2019 attack on a Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Jammu and Kashmir.  
  • The Indian Air Force conducted air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Balakot, Pakistan.  
  • This operation was the first air strike across the LoC since 1971, leading to brief aerial skirmishes between India and Pakistan. 

Read more: Pahalgam Terror Attack and Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Years Questions (PYQs) 

Prelims 

Q. Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called: (2024)

(a) Operation Sankalp 

(b) Operation Maitri 

(c) Operation Sadbhavana 

(d) Operation Madad 

Ans: C 

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Mains 

Q.“Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in India and growing interference in the internal affairs of several member-states by Pakistan are not conducive for the future of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).” Explain with suitable examples. (2016) 

Q.The terms ‘Hot Pursuit’ and ‘Surgical Strikes’ are often used in connection with armed action against terrorist attacks. Discuss the strategic impact of such actions. (2016)