Why PM Modi Named It ‘Operation Sindoor’: A Strike Born from National Grief

In a bold and emotionally charged move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only authorised but personally named India’s latest cross-border military action as “Operation Sindoor”—a tribute to the lives shattered by the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.

Why ‘Sindoor’?
The name, Sindoor, meaning the sacred vermillion applied by married Hindu women, was chosen to honour the widows of the 26 civilians—mostly tourists—killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. According to top government officials cited in India Today and ANI, the Prime Minister was “visibly moved” during a late-night security briefing after the attack, where stories of young wives and grieving families were shared.

“This operation must speak to the pain of our people—not just through firepower, but through the weight of our national conscience,” Modi reportedly told senior security officials.

A Response Written in Grief and Steel

Planned in secrecy and executed with surgical precision at 1:44 am on May 7, Operation Sindoor targeted nine key terror launchpads across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The strikes, carried out by a tri-services task force, aimed to dismantle long-established infrastructure used by terrorist outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Indian Air Force Rafale jets led the assault using SCALP cruise missiles and HAMMER bombs, while coordinated inputs from RAW and NTRO ensured accuracy and minimised civilian casualties. Strikes were confirmed in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad, Sialkot, and Kotli—regions known to shelter terror groups backed by Pakistan’s ISI.

A senior defence official, speaking to news agency, said, “This wasn’t just a military strike. It was a message. One that says every drop of blood spilled in Pahalgam will be accounted for.”

Diplomacy Meets Deterrence

While jets roared across borders, India also launched a diplomatic offensive. Within hours of the operation, Indian envoys briefed top diplomats from the US, UK, France, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, asserting New Delhi’s right to defend its sovereignty.

International reactions were cautious but largely supportive. Former US State Department official Lisa Curtis posted on X: “India is sending a clear message to terror sponsors—state protection won’t shield you anymore.”

‘Sindoor’ as National Symbol

Opposition leaders and civil society also joined the narrative. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor wrote: “The name ‘Sindoor’ captures the grief of loss and the strength of resolve. One hopes the message hits home.”

Political analysts note that Modi’s decision to personally name the operation reveals a shift in India’s strategic doctrine—from cold, calibrated deterrence to emotional, people-driven retaliation.

“This is India’s Kargil Doctrine 2.0—swift, symbolic, and backed by intelligence and intent,” said defence expert Maroof Raza in an interview with Times Now.