Regional Endorsement of India’s Counterterror Strategy
In a powerful show of support, former Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh has hailed India’s Operation Sindoor as “bold, unprecedented,” and a model for targeted counterterror responses. The operation, conducted in the early hours of May 7, was India’s swift retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists. Saleh’s endorsement comes with a sharp rebuke of Pakistan’s narrative, where the country attempted to dismiss the strike as a “cowardly act.” Instead, Saleh asserted that India’s action represents the kind of deliberate, courageous strategy democratic nations must embrace in combating terror.
Operation Sindoor: Tactical Precision and Symbolic Force
Operation Sindoor was a 25-minute, high-precision military strike that began at 1:05 AM and concluded by 1:30 AM. The operation targeted nine key locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) believed to house infrastructure linked to terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
Saleh, in a series of posts on social media platform X, employed a compelling metaphor to describe India’s strategic approach. Referring to an earlier statement in which he said India had placed “a long rope around the enemy’s neck,” he noted, “India has now tightened the rope by nine knots,” a symbolic reference to the nine targets neutralized during the operation.
The name “Sindoor,” drawn from the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women as a sign of commitment and sacrifice, added another layer of symbolism, emphasizing resilience, solemnity, and cultural identity in the face of grief and provocation.
Saleh’s Critique
Saleh directly challenged Pakistan’s claim that the strike was “Buzdelana” (cowardly). He wrote:
“I find it puzzling that Pakistan labels it a cowardly attack—a term better suited for suicide bombings, hidden agendas, and masked attackers doing another’s bidding. What India executed was anything but cowardly—it was courageous, forthright, and open.”
His defense wasn’t limited to strategy alone. Saleh also praised India’s transparency, highlighting that the operation was conducted “in military uniform” and under declared authority. In a pointed observation, he noted that the strike was led by an officer named Qureshi, connecting the name to the Prophet Muhammad’s tribe—an indication that India’s actions were against terrorism, not any faith or community.
A Missed Template for Afghanistan and the West
Saleh’s remarks carried a deep note of personal and geopolitical reflection. He expressed regret over not having the operational freedom to conduct similar missions during his tenure.
“I wish I had such capability when the Quetta Shura was active,” he said, referencing the Taliban’s leadership council sheltered in Pakistan.
He further questioned why NATO and the U.S. never undertook similar precise strikes against well-known terrorist networks like the Haqqani Network or the Quetta Shura. He speculated that Western diplomatic entanglements, especially the prolonged Doha negotiations, may have restrained decisive military action.
His conclusion was stark: a “new paradigm” is taking shape, one where states under terror threat can no longer afford passive diplomacy or outsourced security.
A Bold Strike Reverberates Beyond Borders
Amrullah Saleh’s endorsement of Operation Sindoor is more than symbolic—it’s a strategic validation from a region scarred by decades of proxy war and extremism. As someone who has faced the full brunt of Taliban aggression and Pakistan’s alleged complicity in harbouring terror networks, Saleh’s perspective highlights the broader significance of India’s action.
Operation Sindoor is not just a military maneuver; it is a declaration of a new doctrine—one of clarity, courage, and sovereign accountability. As regional powers reassess their counterterror frameworks, India’s example may well serve as a turning point in how democracies respond to asymmetric threats—not with ambiguity, but with decisive resolve.
(With agency inputs)
