Did India’s Swift Retaliation Redefine Counterterrorism Rules?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Operation Sindoor marks a significant shift in India’s approach to counterterrorism.
- The operation was executed with remarkable speed, avenging the Pahalgam attack in just 22 minutes.
- India's military strategy now includes targeting previously unreachable locations.
- Domestic technology, including drones, played a pivotal role in the operation.
- PM Modi's address emphasizes a new era of self-reliance and strength for India.
New Delhi, July 29 (NationPress) In a powerful address to the Lok Sabha during the discussion on Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a compelling narrative of India’s military action in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred on April 22. He declared that India has established its own protocols following the Pahalgam attack. PM Modi highlighted three strategic principles that now shape India's national security approach: India will retaliate based on its own terms; nuclear threats will no longer inhibit action; and there will be no differentiation between terrorists and those who harbor or support them.
He noted that Pakistan had braced itself for significant retaliation, and India executed its strategy with accuracy on the night of May 6 and into the morning of May 7. “The response to the April 22 attack was carried out in a mere 22 minutes,” he emphasized, highlighting the operation's swift and decisive nature. PM Modi characterized Operation Sindoor as a pivotal achievement, marking the first instance where India targeted previously unreachable locations.
He asserted that terrorist camps in Wahwalpur and Muridke were obliterated, and many Pakistani airbases remain incapacitated. “Our military forces dismantled the terrorist strongholds. We demonstrated that Pakistan's nuclear threats are ineffective. Nuclear intimidation will not succeed,” he proclaimed.
The Prime Minister also underscored India's advancing technological capabilities, noting the vital role of domestically produced drones in revealing and dismantling terror networks. “This is an age of technology-driven warfare. Operation Sindoor has showcased India’s expertise in this field,” he stated.
Moreover, he positioned the operation as a significant shift in global perception, asserting that the world now acknowledges the strength of a self-sufficient India. He mentioned that the coordinated efforts of the Army, Air Force, and Navy left Pakistan in shock, asserting that the new norm is one where the masterminds of terror live in fear of India's retaliation.