Operation Sindoor: A New Chapter in India's Military Doctrine

Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025 in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, marks a turning point in India's strategic posture towards Pakistan.

- COL DEV ANAND LOHAMAROR

Unlike earlier retaliatory or preemptive strikes, this operation blended hybrid warfare, real-time intelligence, local civilian integration, advanced technology, expansive geographical scope, and a layered strategic doctrine.

Since 1947, India has conducted several major operations against Pakistan—from full-scale wars to precision strikes. However, Operation Sindoor stands apart as India's first multidimensional hybrid warfare campaign with embedded geopolitical messaging, technological dominance, and indigenous civil-military collaboration.

1. SCALE AND SCOPE: FROM REGIONAL TO THEATRE-LEVEL DEPLOYMENT

Previous operations, such as the 1947-48 Kashmir War, 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak Wars, and Kargil Conflict of 1999, were either conventional wars or localized conflicts focused on specific territorial aims. Even modern strikes like the 2016 Surgical Strikes and 2019 Balakot Airstrike were targeted and brief. In contrast, Operation Sindoor was theatre-wide, covering: The Line of Control (LoC), International Border (Punjab-Rajasthan sectors), Kashmir's hinterland, potential threat vectors from Pakistani Punjab and Balochistan. The operation was short in duration but high in strategic value, avoiding a drawn-out conflict while still achieving deterrence. This reflects a shift from conventional battlefield tactics to targeted strategic operations, in line with the doctrines of modern warfare.

2. TECHNOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY: AI-ENABLED WARFARE AND DRONE DOMINANCE