New Delhi: India on Thursday commemorated the first anniversary of ‘Operation Sindoor’, the landmark tri-service military offensive launched on May 7, 2025, that targeted nine terror infrastructure sites linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and mainland Pakistan.
The massive operation was launched following the barbaric April 22, 2025, terror attack on tourists and civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The operation, which deployed BrahMos missiles and over 100 aircraft, marked the largest aerial engagement by Indian forces since 1971. Military officials stated that more than 100 terrorists were eliminated in the precision strikes. Pakistan’s retaliatory response resulted in 21 civilian and eight military casualties on the Indian side before a ceasefire was brokered on May 10, 2025.
In the aftermath, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and bilateral trade, signalling a decisive policy shift in treating cross-border terrorism as an act of war.
On the anniversary, the Indian Air Force released footage of the strikes, drawing widespread attention and tributes across the country. Senior government leaders used the occasion to honour the armed forces and reaffirm India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism.
In a post on X, President Droupadi Murmu described Operation Sindoor as a defining testament to India’s unwavering resolve against terrorism, saying the operation reflected the unmatched courage and determination of the armed forces.
She added that the brutal attack at Pahalgam had been met with befitting and exemplary precision, and that those who threatened India must know the nation stands vigilant, united, and prepared to respond with strength.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too paid tribute to the forces, saying they had displayed unparalleled courage, precision, and resolve during the operation and had given a fitting response to those who attacked innocent Indians at Pahalgam. He said the entire nation salutes their valour, and reaffirmed that India remains as steadfast as ever in its resolve to defeat terrorism and dismantle its enabling ecosystem.
He also highlighted that the operation underscored growing jointness among the services and demonstrated the strength that India’s pursuit of defence self-reliance has brought to national security.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Operation Sindoor an epochal mission that would always remind India’s enemies of the striking power of its armed forces. He said history would remember the day as one where precise military power, meticulous intelligence, and resolute political will came together to destroy every address of terror that had dared to threaten Indian citizens. The minister warned that no matter where adversaries hide, they remain within India’s sight.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saluted the valour and sacrifices of the armed forces, describing their conduct during the operation as reflecting unmatched precision, seamless jointness, and deep synergy across services. He called Operation Sindoor a powerful symbol of national resolve and preparedness, and said it also stood as a testament to India’s steady advances in achieving defence self-reliance.
