Opinion | India’s Strike Leaves Pakistan Reeling and Seeking Ceasefire

Cross-border terrorism is not up for a negotiation for India and the country continues to be ruthless in its response, cautious in its restraint.

On the night of May 9, 2025, and early morning of May 10, India began series of timely and strategic airstrikes against important Pakistani air bases. After a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22nd that left 26 Indian civilians dead, India’s military conducted this operation, an important escalation in the already shaky relationship between these nuclear-armed neighbours. The operation that TRF, a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, initiated crossed what Indian officials called “a final red line”. After much preparation through intelligence and meticulous planning, the Indian Armed Forces embarking on their contingency plans launched the military operation which was officially known as Operation Sindoor.

The offensive broke the air defense strength of Pakistan, and 11 strategically critical air bases became targets across the country. The first strike target was the Nur Khan air base at Rawalpindi, which is popularly known as Chaklala. As a crucial node for military air transport and command operations, it was irreplaceable for Pakistan’s strategic mobility and readiness. At the same time, the Indian Air Force attacked Rafiqui Airbase in Shorkot, which was home to several JF-17 and F-16 squadrons, from which it launched French origin SCALP missiles from its Rafale aircraft. The munitions significantly destroyed hardened aircraft shelters and logistics depots.

Less known even than some, Murid Airbase was critical to the surveillance and radar capabilities of Pakistan. The Indian military used loitering munitions, perhaps, including the Israeli-made Harop drones, to counter the electronic surveillance system of the airbase. In southern Pakistan, Sukkur Airbase was hit because of its important role in supplying logistics assets. The satellite surveillance has identified unusual movements of military vehicles which meant an offensive readiness could be at the planning stage.

The Sialkot airbase, which was not far away from India’s Jammu sector, was a clear tactical threat. India’s Su-30MKIs struck against the airstrip and radar systems of Sialkot with standoff BrahMos-A cruise missiles. Pasrur, a strategic base for UAVs, became inoperable, after coordinated drone swarms severed communications and destroyed any active UAVs. Mirage 2000 fighter jets carrying out low-altitude strikes sank another airstrip that was allegedly to contain emergency repair facilities and fuel reserves, namely Chunian.

One of the most defining raids for the confrontation was PAF Mushaf, or Sargodha. Analysts’ opinion has it that this base considered Pakistan’s most sensitive is believed to be housing nuclear weapons and critical command infrastructure. To disable its command-and-control, runways, and electronic warfare defenses, India airlifted in precision-guided munitions thus sending a strong strategic message. Indian drones in the Leh sector attacked the high-altitude Skardu airbase, which is used by Pakistan to keep an eye on the Ladakh sector. Such an action substantially diminished Pakistan’s ability to terrorize the northern India.

Pakistan’s counterattack was feeble and hardly effective. All drones and short-range missiles fired at Indian bases at Jammu, Amritsar and Bathinda by Pakistan were brought down by India’s integrated air defense network. The deployment of S-400 Triumf SAMs in northern India combined with Barak-8 batteries meant no Pakistani missile would reach their targets. Indian land was not affected by the retaliation since no civilians or military personnel were affected.

India’s AWACS aircraft played a key role in monitoring and disrupting the communication of Pakistan during the counterattack. Indian countermeasures made Pakistan’s F-16 sorties useless in mid-air because they could not get round the radar interference. The evidence indicated that the Indian Air Force achieved absolute air superiority over Pakistan.

When one successive missile crippled command facilities at Sargodha and disrupted all air bases, Islamabad asked its National Command Authority (NCA) for advice on its nuclear strategy. The world watched as Pakistan might take up a nuclear stance, raising the stakes in the region. However, Indian representatives reminded their global counterparts such as the U.S, Russia and France that the country had retained its defense-oriented approach with its nuclear arsenal. However, without any fanfare, India had repositioned its survivable second strike systems to reflect its readiness, which further bolstered its belief without compromising its No First Use pledge.

In a critical diplomatic atmosphere, the DGMO of Pakistan reached out to his Indian DGMO through predetermined channels, begging for an immediate ceasefire. Pakistan, which was aware of possible losses and India’s resolve to escalate, came to understand that maintaining the situation may bring about severe and possibly irreversible consequences. India accepted the ceasefire, on the proviso that Pakistan would be sure to ensure that there was no further cross-border aggression or terrorist episodes.

The Indian Ministry of Defence, following the operation, made a straight-forward pronouncement of its success, describing it as a “well-calibrated, deadline-driven mission to neutralize Pakistan’s terrorist support network and logistics”. Speaking to the country Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the military and pointed out that India had “demonstrated exceptional strategic restraint and powerful resolve”.

Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, informed critical global leaders of India’s right to self-defense, based on Article 51 of the UN Charter. He stressed that the military activity was supposed to protect civilians and eliminate future attacks but was not to initiate a war. Diplomatic efforts were essential to blocking India from being under global sanctions or isolation because many allies privately supported the country’s stable posture.

The opinions on Operation Sindoor have been sought and analyzed by the think tanks and strategic organizations of the world. The Operation Sindoor was different from the 2019 Balakot strikes not only in its capacity to neutralize terrorist infrastructure but also in making Pakistan’s conventional military aviation ineffective. It showed India’s evolution into a country capable of carrying out multidimensional warfare with air, naval, electronic and cyber assets.

Even though hostilities have ceased, Operation Sindoor has completely changed the strategic climate in South Asia. What made Operation Sindoor more successful than it seems on the surface is not only the fact that the damage was serious but also the message that it sent out: Cross-border terrorism is not up for a negotiation for India and the country continues to be ruthless in its response, cautious in its restraint. Maintaining stability now rests with Pakistan, since active resistance against terror groups in its borders is key to avoiding further escalation.

vaizzargar@rediffmail.com