A Strategic Shift

Operation Sindoor signals a fundamental shift in India's approach to terrorism, its defence doctrine, nuclear deterrence and regional diplomacy By Sangeet Kumar Sanu

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THE launch of military strike, called Operation Sindoor by India in response to cross-border terrorist provocation marks a profound shift in the region's strategic equilibrium. Beyond being a tactical military strike, the operation serves as a signal of India's evolving defence doctrine and a recalibration of its long-standing approach to terrorism, nuclear deterrence, and regional diplomacy. Post military operation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing armed personnel at the Bhuj Air Force Station, laid out the operation's broader strategic contours. He emphasised that India's approach to terrorism has now been formally enshrined in its national defence doctrine.

Shift in India’s Pakistan Doctrine

This doctrinal pivot has been crystallised not only in military action but also in political articulation. On May 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly laid out three tenets of the revamped doctrine:

1. Any terror attack on India will be treated as an act of war.

2. Those who give sanctuary to terrorists will be considered terrorists themselves.

3. India will not be deterred by nuclear threats when acting in self-defence.

This marks a paradigm shift from a reactive to a pre-emptive and punitive posture. For decades, India’s strategy largely involved diplomatic isolation of Pakistan and limited retaliation. However, after repeated provocations — from Pulwama to Pahalgam triggering Operation Sindoor — India has moved to impose real costs on Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism.

Redefining Nuclear Deterrence