Context: Operation Sindoor marks a turning point in India’s counter-terrorism strategy and military posture towards Pakistan. It reflects India’s new assertive doctrine of swift, escalated retaliation against cross-border terrorism.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India’s counter-terrorism strategy and military posture toward Pakistan.
Shifts in India’s Response post the Pahagam Terror Attack:
- Shift from strategic restraint to Proactive Retaliation: In the past, India often exercised strategic restraint. India's current posture on cross-border terrorism is proactive retaliation, strategic assertiveness, and zero tolerance.
- Expanded Military Engagement: The Kargil conflict of 1999 was limited to a small area in Jammu and Kashmir. During Operation Sindoor, India hit targets up to 100 km inside Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
- Zero Tolerance Doctrine: India’s new posture treats both terrorist groups and their state sponsors as equal threats. Military action now targets infrastructure, command centers, and even state-protected assets.
- Establishment of a New Normal: The Indian Prime Minister clearly stated that military action was “suspended, not ended.” India has lowered its threshold for initiating military action in response to terror.
- International Message and Narrative Control: By linking Pakistan-based groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed to major terrorist attacks in the US and UK, India framed Operation Sindoor as India’s war on terrorism, similar to what NATO launched in Afghanistan after 9/11. The multi-political party outreach by the Indian government, travelling the world and explaining Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's 'zero-tolerance policy towards such aggression.
Escalation ladder- Controlled Response by India:
The progression of Operation Sindoor can be understood through the framework of the 44-step "escalation ladder" proposed by American military strategist Herman Kahn.
- Kahn's step 1: Ostensible Crisis: The Pahalgam terror attack can be described as an ostensible crisis.
- Kahn's Step 2: Political, Economic and Diplomatic Gestures: India’s decisions to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, cancelling the visas of Pakistani nationals, stopping trade and postal services, closing India’s air space for Pakistan’s aircraft, etc.
- Kahn’s Step 3: Solemn and Formal Declarations: India’s top leadership declared the intent to avenge the killings of the tourists at Pahalgam.
- Kahn’s Step 4: Hardening of Positions Confrontation of Wills: India blamed Pakistan for not taking action against terrorist groups, while Islamabad asked for evidence of India’s accusation. It also said that India’s position on the IWT would be deemed as an “act of war”.
- Kahn's Step 5: Show of Force: Indian Navy carried out multiple anti-ship missile firings, underlining its preparedness for long-range offensive strikes. Pakistan also test-fired Abdali, its surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a 450-km range.
- Kahn's Step 6: Significant Mobilisation: Both sides moved military assets stealthily, preparing for confrontation.
- The escalation quickly reached rungs 8 (Harassing Acts of Violence) and 9 (Dramatic Military Confrontations).
Also Read: India needs National Security Doctrine
India did strike at nine terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and successfully thwarted Pakistani drone attacks along the western border. The conflict de-escalated with a ceasefire on May 10, halting the confrontation at Step 9.