A Nation on Edge After a Massacre
On April 22, 2025, a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, left 26 people dead—25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national. The attack, linked to Pakistan-based terror groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), shocked the nation and reignited long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan. In response, India launched a calculated military offensive—Operation Sindoor—targeting terror infrastructure across the border. The fallout from these strikes has triggered heightened security measures across India, including the cancellation of paramilitary leaves and red alerts in sensitive regions.
Operation Sindoor: Strikes with Surgical Precision
In the early hours of May 7, Indian armed forces executed a series of precision strikes on nine terror targets—five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and four inside Pakistan. Among the targets were JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur and LeT’s nerve center in Muridke, Punjab, both longstanding epicentres of anti-India terror operations.
According to India’s Ministry of Defence, these actions were “focused, measured and non-escalatory,” aimed strictly at terrorist hideouts, with no Pakistani military infrastructure targeted. The operation was supported by Rafale fighter jets armed with SCALP missiles and precision-guided munitions, which neutralized terror launchpads, training camps, and radicalization centers. Indian intelligence estimates suggest between 80 to 90 terrorists were killed, including ten family members of UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar.
Sources revealed that among those killed were Azhar’s sister and brother-in-law, who were reportedly present at the JeM stronghold in Bahawalpur during the strike. A purported statement circulated online from Azhar himself confirmed the deaths, though its authenticity remains unverified. This revelation has drawn global attention, underscoring the depth of India’s targeting and the symbolic significance of the operation.
Amit Shah’s Orders: No Room for Complacency
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued directives to all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to immediately cancel leaves and recall all personnel. These orders reflect the seriousness with which the government is treating the threat of potential retaliation. Shah also conducted a high-level security review with top officials and instructed them to maintain heightened alertness across the nation.
Coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir administration has been stepped up. Shah directed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to prioritize the safety of civilians in border areas. Evacuations have been initiated, and bunkers are being prepared as precautionary shelters.
Shah, in a statement on X, referred to the strikes as “Bharat’s response to the brutal killings of innocent people in Pahalgam.” He emphasized that the Modi government remains unwavering in its commitment to eliminate terrorism “from its roots” and deliver justice for the lives lost.
Domestic Security Response: States Go on Alert
States bordering Pakistan, particularly Uttar Pradesh, have ramped up security in response to the strikes. Uttar Pradesh’s Director General of Police, Prashant Kumar, announced a Red Alert across the state. Police field units have been ordered to coordinate with defense forces to safeguard key infrastructure and prevent any potential backlash.
Kumar stated on X that UP Police is “alert, equipped with resources, and fully prepared to ensure the safety of every citizen.” Similar alerts have been sounded in Punjab, Rajasthan, and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting the possibility of terror reprisals or civil unrest.
International and Political Fallout
India’s decision to strike deep inside Pakistani territory has drawn strong reactions. Pakistan’s leadership labeled the strikes a “blatant act of war,” alleging civilian casualties and vowing retaliation. Meanwhile, Indian officials have maintained that every effort was made to avoid civilian harm and emphasized the restraint demonstrated in the execution of Operation Sindoor.
The international community, including the United Nations and key global players like the United States and France, has expressed concern and urged both nations to de-escalate. However, within India, the strikes have been broadly welcomed as a decisive act of justice and deterrence.
Between Justice and Escalation
India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack has sent an unmistakable message: cross-border terrorism will be met with force. Operation Sindoor, while measured in its targeting and execution, underscores a shifting doctrine—one that no longer tolerates proxy violence as a norm.
However, this muscular response also comes with risks. As both nations bolster their forces along borders and rhetoric intensifies, the potential for miscalculation grows. The challenge now lies in preventing a localized military response from spiralling into a wider conflict.
The government’s preparedness—evacuating civilians, activating bunkers, cancelling leaves—shows a sobering awareness of what may follow. Yet, even as India asserts its right to self-defence, it must also engage diplomatically to prevent long-term destabilization.
India has acted in response to terror—but whether this brings peace or prolonged tension will depend on what happens next. The path ahead requires a balance of vigilance, deterrence, and above all, restraint.
(With agency inputs)
