Following the conclusion of Operation Sindoor-a swift 88-hour military mission targeting terror networks in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir-India’s Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi declared the action “just a trailer,” underlining India’s heightened readiness for any future circumstances.
General Dwivedi warned that if Pakistan provokes again, India will respond forcefully, aiming to teach its neighbour how to act responsibly and peacefully.
The statement marks a significant escalation in India’s security posture, with officials emphasising preparedness, resolve, and a clear message against cross-border terrorism.
The aftermath has put bilateral relations under renewed strain, with both governments and observers watching for the next developments.
“Just a Trailer”: The Operation and Official Warnings
Operation Sindoor commenced in the pre-dawn hours of 7 May 2025, representing a coordinated tri-service strike on nine identified terror camps belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and associated outfits.
Utilising advanced arsenal-including SCALP cruise missiles, HAMMER precision-guided bombs, and loitering munitions delivered by the Indian Air Force-Indian forces claimed high accuracy and minimal collateral damage.
Navy units ensured maritime dominance, while the Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted major infiltration attempts along the Jammu international border, resulting in the neutralisation of multiple infiltrators.
In public statements, General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff, described Operation Sindoor as a warning shot: “Operation Sindoor was just a trailer that ended in 88 hours. We are prepared for any eventualities in the future. If Pakistan gives another chance, we will teach it how to behave as a neighbour”. He reiterated India’s commitment to protecting civilians, noting,
“The Army never attacks during prayers or targets innocents; every effort is made to prevent collateral damage”. At the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, he noted that India’s defence readiness and procurement budgets had swelled, asserting deterrence as the new standard for regional peace.
Context and Escalation: The Path to Retaliation
The immediate catalyst for Operation Sindoor was the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, attributed by Indian agencies to the Resistance Front-a relatively new but lethal terrorist group operating under suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba influence.
The massacre of 26 tourists sparked public outrage and urgent calls for action both from the government and civil society. Following two weeks of intelligence gathering, Indian forces executed precision raids deep inside Pakistani territory-actions described as “non-escalatory” and focused strictly on dismantling terrorist infrastructure.
Pakistan, conversely, claimed Indian strikes hit civilian areas, including mosques, with over 40 civilian deaths alleged and five Indian jets reportedly downed in retaliatory fire. Both nations subsequently traded air and missile attacks across the Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan sectors, though each officially insisted the other was the aggressor.
Despite a rapid ceasefire declaration by 10 May, alleged violations continued sporadically in tense border theatres. Indian and international observers expressed concern: for the first time in years, both countries conducted strikes far beyond the Line of Control, raising fears of dangerous new precedents in regional military engagement.
On the diplomatic front, India maintained that the operation’s success rested on its limited scope and avoidance of civilian targets, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar briefing Parliament on the foreign policy dimensions of India’s “measured and resolute” response.
However, leading global powers were divided, with several urging restraint and only the United States officially claiming credit for brokering the truce, highlighting the complex web of international stakes in the situation.
Fallout, Critique, and Evolving Security Doctrine
Beyond the immediate tactical outcomes-namely, the claimed destruction of terror camps and thwarting of infiltration attempts-Operation Sindoor has generated substantial policy debate within India.
Critics question operational timing, suggesting the two-week gap between the Pahalgam attack and Indian missile launches allowed key perpetrators time to evade justice.
Others argue strategic ambiguity about the operation’s objectives and outcomes risks fuelling future escalations, cementing tit-for-tat cross-border strikes as the new normal.
Supporters, meanwhile, contend that the forceful reply was necessary to disrupt established “ecosystems of terror” and change the cost calculus for state sponsors of militancy.
National security analysts describe the operation as a pivotal doctrinal shift-India’s clear signal that non-military provocations will draw swift and precise responses, backed by growing technological and strategic capacity.
In the weeks following the confrontation, both armies remain on high alert, with diplomatic relationships largely frozen, key treaties suspended, and international border security scaled up to deter future incidents.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Operation Sindoor is emblematic of a critical and complex juncture in India-Pakistan relations-balancing the urgent necessity of deterring terror with the responsibility to avoid harming innocent lives or escalating towards wider conflict.
The Logical Indian urges continued commitment to peace, dialogue, and restraint, while insisting that justice for victims and security for citizens are non-negotiable.
As new security doctrines harden, all stakeholders must be guided by empathy, foresight, and a long-term vision for coexistence across borders and communities.
The operation’s aftermath shows both the risks and necessity of decisive action—yet the prospect of repeated conflict serves neither side.
