Wed May 07 06:00:00 UTC 2025: ## India Launches ‘Operation Sindhoor’, Retaliates Against Cross-Border Terrorism

**New Delhi:** India launched a series of air strikes targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in a decisive response to years of cross-border terrorism. The operation, codenamed “Operation Sindhoor,” was announced in a press briefing Wednesday morning by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, flanked by Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika of the Indian Army and Air Force respectively.

The briefing began with a powerful 1.40-minute film showcasing a grim timeline of terrorist attacks against India, starting with the 2001 Parliament attack and culminating in the 2025 Pehalgam attack. The film detailed the devastating human cost, highlighting casualties from attacks including Akshardham Temple (2002), Mumbai (2008), Uri (2016), and Pulwama (2019). The total number of civilian deaths was presented as over 350, with over 800 injured, and over 600 security personnel killed and over 1400 injured. The film ended with the stark message: “NO MORE.”

The strikes, which penetrated 100 kilometers into Pakistani territory, targeted nine terrorist locations. The selection of these targets, according to sources, represents a calculated response to specific past atrocities. The choice of Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika to brief the media is seen as a powerful symbolic gesture, highlighting the role of women in the nation’s defense and response to the attacks, especially the targeting of Hindu pilgrims in Pehalgam.

The operation’s name, “Operation Sindhoor” (vermillion), is believed to be a reference to the desecration caused by terrorists and is reported to have been suggested by Prime Minister Modi himself. The government’s message is clear: India will no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism. Foreign Secretary Misri explicitly stated that India exercised its right to respond to and deter cross-border terrorism. The presence of Misri underscores the multi-pronged approach—military action combined with diplomatic initiatives.

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