A year on, how has Operation Sindoor shaped India’s strategic options vis-a-vis Pakistan? (Illustration by Illustration: C R Sasikumar) 5 min read May 8, 2026 06:20 AM IST First published on: May 8, 2026 at 06:20 AM IST After Pakistan’s brutal terror attack near Pahalgam in April last year, India launched Operation Sindoor. The Indian Air Force struck nine key terror targets in Pakistan and PoK and caused damage to several Pakistani military airfields. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new normal comprising a fitting reply to every terror attack and not tolerating Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail. Questions were raised about India’s narrative management in the wake of Operation Sindoor. Nonetheless, the operation was a tactical success on more than one count. It was a well-publicised payback for Pakistan’s terror crimes. It validated the efficacy of some of India’s weapon systems and demonstrated India’s capability to carry out precision strikes deep inside Pakistan.…