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The article details 'Operation Sindoor,' a military operation conducted by India against Pakistan, focusing on the strategic and diplomatic aspects of the conflict. The operation commenced with strikes against three key terror groups operating from Pakistani soil: Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur, Lashkar-e-Toiba in Muridke, and Hizbul Mujahideen & LeT in Muzaffarabad. These initial strikes were designed to be short, simultaneous, and precise, lasting only 15-20 minutes on March 7th. A core element of India's strategy was to ensure that the burden of escalation remained with Pakistan, maintaining the 'last fire' advantage in any military exchange. This meant responding immediately and decisively to any Pakistani provocation, preventing Pakistan from dictating the pace or scope of the conflict.
The article highlights the damage inflicted on key Pakistani airbases as part of Operation Sindoor. Chaklala (Nur Khan) base near Rawalpindi, home to Pakistan's air mobility command and PAF college, sustained significant damage. Rafiqui base in Shorkut Cantt, Punjab, a major facility with large runways, was also heavily hit after its air defenses were neutralized. Rahim Yar Khan base in southern Punjab, crucial for drones, UAVs, and fighters, suffered severe destruction. Murid base in Chakwal, northern Punjab, a forward operating base likely used for launching drones and missiles against India, was also destructively hit. These strikes aimed to cripple Pakistan's air capabilities and degrade its ability to launch further attacks against India. The systematic dismantling of Pakistan's air defense systems played a crucial role in achieving this objective.
Beyond the military actions, the article emphasizes the diplomatic maneuvers undertaken by India to isolate Pakistan and manage international pressure. India communicated that Operation Sindoor was targeted against terror camps, presenting it as a non-escalatory response and not a conventional strike against the Pakistani military or civilian population. A key aspect of India's diplomatic strategy was to refuse any mediation attempts, insisting that the onus was on Pakistan to correct its approach to terrorism. India also conveyed that the burden of de-escalation rested solely with Pakistan. This message was consistently relayed to international interlocutors, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, who played a role in conveying India's position to Pakistan. India made it clear that any country wishing to engage with New Delhi could do so, but not as a conduit for messages to Islamabad.
The narrative details a turning point on May 10th when damaging air strikes on seven Pakistan airbases led to increased diplomatic pressure on Pakistan. Within hours, the US Secretary of State contacted the External Affairs Minister of India, indicating Pakistan's readiness for a ceasefire. Similar signals came from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Subsequently, the Pakistan DGMO reached out to his Indian counterpart seeking a ceasefire. This marked a potential winding down of a four-day intense military operation, which had exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan's air defenses. India's strategic objectives for Operation Sindoor were multifaceted: striking terror sites beyond the scope of previous operations (2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot strikes), responding immediately to Pakistani provocation, and systematically dismantling Pakistan's air defense capabilities.
The sequence of events leading up to the ceasefire involved a series of retaliatory actions. Pakistan's DGMO initially responded aggressively to India's strikes on terror sites, indicating Pakistan's intent to respond militarily. This prompted India to prepare for immediate and decisive retaliation. When Pakistani drones and UAVs targeted Indian bases, India responded by taking down Pakistan's air defense system in Lahore. The intent was to expose Pakistan's air bases, making its fighter aircraft and drone fleets vulnerable. India utilized Harop drones effectively to achieve this. Following India's attack on Lahore, the burden of military escalation shifted to Pakistan. Amidst international pressure, Pakistan launched a major assault on 36 locations across the LoC and international border on the night of May 8th.
India responded to Pakistan's attack by destroying four more air defense facilities, including a radar site. This further shifted the burden of escalation back to Pakistan by daybreak on May 9th. Coincidentally, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was meeting to approve a financial assistance package for Pakistan on the same day. Despite the impending IMF decision, Pakistan launched 'Operation Bunyan Marsoos' using UAVs, loitering munitions, fighter aircraft, long-range artillery, and missiles. India defended its bases using the S-400 and Akash air defense systems. India responded in the early hours of May 10th, targeting Pakistan's air bases after having neutralized its air defense systems. The targets included key bases in Punjab and Sindh, causing immense damage and leaving Pakistan with limited air defense capabilities.
The article suggests that Pakistan underestimated India's willingness to strike deep within its territory. By denuding Pakistan of its air defense, India created a situation where any further escalation by Pakistan could lead to a bigger, stronger response. India's diplomatic objectives aligned with its military offensive. From the outset, India's messaging on terrorism resonated with most of the international community. While some initially urged restraint, Pakistan's military actions prompted a shift in perspective, allowing India to respond assertively. The strategy of not delaying military response proved effective in preempting international pressure. Although several countries reached out, the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE played particularly helpful roles in conveying India's message to Pakistan.
India maintained a firm stance against any mediation efforts, conveying that it would not make exceptions for leaders traveling to Islamabad from New Delhi. Saudi Arabia's suggestion of face-to-face talks between India and Pakistan in its presence was declined. These three countries played a key role in delivering India's message to Pakistan: any military escalation would be met with a continued response. Pakistan faced considerable pressure, as each decision to escalate was met with difficult diplomatic calls. Eventually, the combined impact of air base strikes and growing diplomatic pressure proved unsustainable for Pakistan. The Pakistan DGMO requested a ceasefire on May 10th. India agreed to a ceasefire conditioned upon Pakistan's troop withdrawal and demonstrable military de-escalation. When firings resumed, India questioned Pakistan's sincerity. By March 11th morning, relative calm returned, but India remains on high alert and maintains its diplomatic decisions taken after the Pahalgam attack, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.