NextFin news, On the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, May 6-7, 2025, the Indian Armed Forces executed Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror bases located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was launched at approximately 1 a.m. to minimize civilian casualties and leverage advanced military capabilities, according to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan.
General Chauhan disclosed these details during an interaction with school children at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on Friday, September 19, 2025. He explained that the timing of the strikes was a strategic decision. Although dawn hours would have been operationally easier, the Indian military chose 1 a.m. to avoid civilian casualties, especially during the early morning Azan or Namaz prayers when many civilians would be vulnerable.
The operation was a response to the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred earlier in 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists. The strikes targeted terror camps affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which have been responsible for cross-border terrorism.
Operation Sindoor marked a shift in India's military strategy, employing a "new kind of warfare" that integrated long-range precision weapons, satellite imagery, electronic surveillance, and signal intelligence. The Indian Navy also participated, deploying S400 and S120 missile systems and commandos in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and the Arabian Sea, complementing air and land forces.
General Chauhan emphasized that the operation was a non-contact, multi-domain engagement where success was measured by dominance and sophistication rather than territorial gains. The Indian Armed Forces demonstrated confidence in their ability to conduct precise strikes under the cover of darkness, supported by satellite imagery and drone technology.
The choice of May 7 for the operation was also influenced by favorable weather conditions, with clear skies and no rain predicted, facilitating the success of the strikes.
Following Operation Sindoor, reports indicate that terror groups like JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen have shifted their bases from PoK to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in Pakistan, adapting to the new security environment. JeM has been observed expanding its camps and conducting recruitment drives in KPK, often under the watch of local authorities.
The Indian government and military have maintained that Operation Sindoor was a decisive response to terrorism emanating from across the border, aiming to dismantle terror infrastructure while minimizing collateral damage to civilians.
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