LESSONS FROM SINDOOR

While India's military actions on May 7 and 10 were successful, it is vital to assess strategic and tactical lessons and shortcomings

- BY LT GEN PHILIP CAMPOSE (RETD)

WHEN THE history of the Indian military is written, the early morning of May 10, 2025, will be remembered in golden letters. On this day, the Indian Air Force launched multiple precision strikes, using cruise missiles, on 11 Pakistan Air Force bases—Nur Khan (Chaklala), Rafiqui, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur, Sialkot, Bholari, Mushaf (Sargodha) and Skardu. These strikes severely damaged runways, radars, air defence systems, command hubs, hangars, air traffic control towers, UAVs, ammunition depots and AEW (airborne early warning) aircraft. Such was the scale and precision of the attack that the Pakistan military was forced to sue for peace—directly and through US intermediaries—resulting in a ceasefire by that afternoon. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, had thus achieved its objective.

The May 10 airstrikes marked the fourth and final stage of escalation in a conflict that began on April 22, following Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 25 tourists and a pony minder. These attacks were attributable to Pakistan's “deep state”—the army, intelligence agencies and terror groups—led by General Asim Munir. Surprisingly, despite a clear military defeat, Munir was promoted to field marshal.

India's initial response to the Pahalgam attack was diplomatic and economic, including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. Fourteen days later, staying true to its policy of overt, punitive and proportionate retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7. The operation began with strikes on terror infrastructure across Pakistan, including, for the first time, targets outside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)—notably in Sialkot and Bahawalpur in Punjab province.