On the evening of May 10, a hush fell over the battlefield. For the first time in almost a week, the borders between India and Pakistan experienced a semblance of tranquillity, following one of the most intense and devastating confrontations in recent memory.
Operation Sindoor, India's bold
and precise military response targeting terrorist strongholds in Pakistan and
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), signifies a pivotal moment in the evolving
security strategy of the subcontinent.
Although hostilities have ceased,
a new strategic framework for India has emerged, one that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has articulated with both clarity and decisiveness. It is
imperative to formally recognize this new doctrine as The Doctrine of
Sindoor.
A Red Line Reimagined
Codenamed Operation Sindoor,
which symbolically invokes the sacred red mark representing dignity and honour
for Indian women, was a direct military response to the terror attack in
Pahalgam on April 22.
Within a fortnight, India
executed a coordinated strike on May 7, targeting locations described by PM
Modi as 'global universities of terrorism' in Bahawalpur and Muridke.
Reports indicated that over 100
terrorists were neutralized. This led to a near-war scenario, with both nations
engaged in a perilous missile and drone confrontation.
The escalation was alarming;
however, the subsequent request for a ceasefire from Pakistan just 100 hours
later validated India's objective of establishing deterrence through decisive
retaliation.
The Three Pillars of the
Doctrine of Sindoor
Central to this doctrine is a
transformative triad, as articulated by Prime Minister Modi and emphasized by
the Indian Director General of Military Operations, which signifies a strategic
evolution in India's approach to addressing terrorism and threats sponsored by
states.
Decisive Retaliation at a
Time and Place of India's Choosing
India will no longer adhere to a
reactive or defensive posture. As PM Modi stated, terrorist attacks on Indian
soil will invite direct action against their origins.
No longer will geography or
political pressure dictate India's hand; retaliation will be swift,
coordinated, and tailored on India’s terms.
Rejecting the Specter of
Nuclear Blackmail
The second pillar dismantles a
long-standing psychological barrier the fear of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
India’s leadership has made it clear that nuclear threats will not deter
military action against terrorist infrastructure.
As Modi asserted, "Any
terrorist safe haven operating under the assurance of nuclear blackmail will
face precise and decisive strikes."
This is a bold and calculated
declaration, signalling India’s readiness to call Pakistan’s bluff.
Equating Terrorist Groups
with Their Patron States
The third tenet of the Doctrine
of Sindoor erases the artificial distinction between terrorist actors and the
governments that shelter them.
"Terror and state cannot be
separated when states line up to bury terrorists with honours," Modi
pointed out.
This perspective calls for a
global re-evaluation of how Pakistan is dealt with diplomatically not as a
victim of terrorism, but as its enabler.
Symbolism and Strategic
Clarity
The designation of Operation
Sindoor is imbued with intentional cultural and emotional significance.
Modi's statement, 'Terrorists
erased our women's Sindoor, we dismantled their stronghold,' conveys not only a
sense of retribution but also the restoration of national dignity.
It resonates with a shared
historical trauma, recalling events from Pulwama to Uri, and recontextualizes
India's counter-terrorism strategy in a manner that is both tactical and
symbolic.
Furthermore, this operation
highlighted the advancement of India's military-industrial sector.
PM Modi underscored the
achievements of 'Made in India' defence technologies, illustrating the
capabilities of domestic missiles and drones.
This initiative transcends mere
military pride; it represents India's aspiration to reshape 21st-century
warfare through self-sufficiency and innovation.
A Diplomatic Challenge for the
World
In Modi's own words: “Terror and
talk cannot go together, terror and trade cannot happen together, and water and
blood also cannot flow together.”
These aren’t rhetorical
flourishes they form the boundaries of India's future diplomatic engagement
with Pakistan.
The message to the international
community is unambiguous: India’s willingness to engage in dialogue is now
strictly conditional on verifiable action against terrorism.
By declaring that any future
talks will be solely about terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, India has
narrowed the field of diplomacy with a surgical precision matching its military
strikes.
The New Normal
The Doctrine of Sindoor
transcends mere retribution; it seeks to reformulate deterrence theory within
the subcontinent.
This approach advocates for a
shift from a reactive to a proactive posture, transitioning from diplomatic
appeals to military enforcement, and from mere symbolic outrage to tangible
repercussions.
Detractors may contend that such
assertiveness could exacerbate instability. However, this perspective
presupposes that the existing conditions were stable from the outset.
Operation Sindoor has effectively
introduced a level of unpredictability not regarding India's vulnerabilities,
but concerning its responses.
For the first time in many years,
the repercussions of supporting terrorism against India have escalated to a
perilously high level for Pakistan.
From Balakot to Sindoor
Since the Balakot air strikes in
2019 and leading up to Operation Sindoor in 2025, India has shifted from a
stance of strategic patience to one of proactive engagement.
The Doctrine of Sindoor
transcends a mere military strategy; it embodies a national doctrine focused on
deterrence, dignity, and decisiveness.
The effectiveness of this
doctrine in preventing future attacks or instigating a fundamental change in
Pakistan's approach to terrorism is yet to be determined.
However, it is evident that a clear boundary has been established, symbolized by the colour of Sindoor.
13.5.2025
Kuala Lumpur.
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Published at https://focusmalaysia.my/the-doctrine-of-sindoor-indias-red-line-against-terror/
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