Going ahead, for India, two important aspects stand out. Op Sindoor laid bare the growing cooperation between China and Pakistan in defence and intelligence. Delhi must deepen its own ties with like-minded partners to ensure it continues to have the edge not just in the conventional domain, but also in cyber and sub-conventional warfare. 3 min read May 7, 2026 07:58 PM IST First published on: May 7, 2026 at 07:58 PM IST In the days between the horrific attack on civilians in Pahalgam on April 22 last year and the beginning of Operation Sindoor on May 7, a question loomed large over India’s strategic establishment. After the surgical strikes (2016) and Balakot attack (2019) raised the costs of sponsoring terrorism for Pakistan, what further deterrence could India offer, short of risking all-out war? Pulling off a calibrated response in a nuclearised neighbourhood was no easy task. The success of Operation Sindoor erased doubts about India’s ability to respond to state-sponsored terrorism.…