Pahalgam retribution: Nation rallies behind armed forces after 'Operation Sindoor' strikes back at Pakistan-based terror camps

Indian political parties presented a united front in support of the security forces following 'Operation Sindoor', launched in response to the brutal killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam on April 22. Unlike the aftermath of the Balakot strike when some had called for proof of army action, this time, the political voices are aimed at boosting the national and armed forces’ morale.

The government too had kept most of the political parties in the loop. It convened an all-party meeting to apprise political leaders of the cross-border operation. The opposition parties, while endorsing the military action, have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally attend the briefing so that a common ground be maintained in matters of national security.

ALSO READ | Operation Sindoor: NSA Ajit Doval declares India ready to “retaliate resolutely” if Pakistan escalates tensions

PM Modi lauded the armed forces for their action. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the operation as “historic”, emphasising that no civilian areas were targeted. He hailed the armed forces for acting with “precision, precaution and compassion”, a narrative aimed at balancing military resolve with ethical restraint.

While the security situation along the border remains potentially volatile, the military's decisive response has offered a measure of reassurance to a nation grappling with the shock and the grieving families of the deceased.

Even the naming of the army action as ‘Operation Sindoor’—laden with cultural and emotional symbolism—had been carefully chosen by PM Modi to evoke both retribution and resolve. If the Pahalgam attack was a message to Modi, the operation was the answer, as 'Operation Sindoor' demonstrated.

Adding to the symbolic messaging, two women officers—Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh—were tasked with briefing the media. This gesture was interpreted as a message of inclusivity, strength, and strategic communication, aimed not only at domestic audiences, but also at Pakistan-backed non-state actors who may have wanted to foment communal trouble through the targeted killing in Pahalgam, Kashmir. 

ALSO READ | WATCH: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauds 'Operation Sindoor', highlights the danger of Pakistani terror camps

The Pahalgam attack provoked national outrage, with mounting public calls for retaliation. Prime Minister Modi, during a rally in Bihar, had vowed a firm response against Pakistan. Now, having fulfilled his assurance by targeting nine terrorist-linked sites across the border may further boost Modi’s image ahead of his first year of his third term in office.

As praise and nationalistic messages dominated social media along with rumours and motivated content, the political class also gave a message of unity. The political consensus has mirrored the public sentiment.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi unequivocally praised the armed forces, affirming their full support. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal declared that “all 140 crore Indians stand behind the Indian Army”, framing the response as a collective national stance against terrorism. AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, often a vocal critic of the BJP, also took to social media platform X with a stark message: “Pakistan Murdabad.”

While the operational success of 'Operation Sindoor' is apparent, its broader implications and the potential for escalation will take time to fully unfold. For now, the operation has succeeded in delivering a strong message of deterrence. 

India