Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed: India strikes back – Justice served for Pahalgam terror attack

India has finally hit back hard at Pakistan after the brutal Pahalgam terror attack. In the early hours of Wednesday, May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, a powerful military strike that targeted nine terror camps, four inside Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). 

 

This comes just two weeks after terrorists hiding in the pine forests of Pahalgam attacked innocent tourists on April 22, killing 26 people in cold blood. The entire country was in shock and rage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised revenge, and now, that promise has been fulfilled.

 

PM Modi had said loud and clear:

“We will not spare the terrorists or their backers. We will chase them to the ends of the Earth. Terrorism will not go unpunished,” as quoted by FirstPost. 

 

And true to his word, India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force united to strike deep into enemy territory. This was not just a message, it was a warning:

If you kill innocent Indians, we will hunt you down. There will be no safe place for terrorists in Pakistan

 

Since this morning, Social media is flooded with countless videos, images, and tweets. Before the strike happened, many people had doubts such as, Was such an operation even possible? Some were even hanging nimbu-mirchi on Rafale jets, and several questioned the government about the accountability of the Pahalgam attack.

 

This is only the second time in Indian history that ‘tri-services cooperation’ has taken place. The first was during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. And now, this strike could be seen as a strong signal against Pakistan, that India is a danger, not in danger. 

 

Let’s go back to history for a moment.

 

In 1971, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was suffering under a brutal military crackdown by the Pakistani Army through Operation Searchlight. Nearly 3 million people were killed, and millions of refugees crossed into India, bringing up a massive humanitarian crisis.

 

India couldn’t stay silent on this. It decided to act,  not just to help the people of East Pakistan, but also to deal with the growing refugee burden in India. 

 

So, under the leadership of PM Indira Gandhi and General Sam Manekshaw, India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force came together and planned a joint war operation. It was the first time in Indian history that tri-services cooperation happened and worked hand in hand, deciding targets, timing, and movements coordination

 

The Indian Army launched a powerful ground attack. In just 13 days, Indian soldiers reached Dhaka. Pakistan was in shock. And then came the turning point which the world can never forget. 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered. It is considered to be the biggest military surrender after World War II.

 

The Indian Air Force took control of the skies, aur striking enemy’s airfields and helping ground troops move forward simultaneously.  At the same time, the Indian Navy carried out deadly missions named Operation Trident and Operation Python,  which destroyed Karachi port and crushed Pakistan’s naval strength. East Pakistan was completely cut off from support.

 

And the result? A mouth-breaking reply to Pakistan: The birth of a new nation, Bangladesh.

 

And today, on May 7, history repeats itself. In a swift, with powerful response, India launched 24 strikes against 9 terror groups, 21 camps, resulting in 70 terrorists killed. For 25 minutes, India rained hell on terror bases. The Operation Sindoor targets’ also included Markaz Taiba Muridke, the notorious training ground for terrorists like David Headley and others, it also got devastated. 

 

If Pakistan views this as an act of war, let them think so. However, it is important to note that India did not target any military posts. The strikes were focused, precise, and carefully measured, aimed at eliminating terror infrastructure without escalating the situation as briefed by Vikram Mishri, Foreign Secretary, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh to the media in New Delhi. 

 

Talking about the warriors of the Operation Sindoor

First, the Hammer missile, It carries a 250 kg warhead, is 3.1 meters long, and weighs around 340 kg. It has an operational range of over 70 km and an accuracy of just 10 meters. This missile can be launched from fighter jets like Rafale, Mirage 2000D, Mirage F1, F-16, and Tejas.

 

The second is the Scalp cruise missile, famous for its long-range precision. It has a warhead weighing 450 kg, an operational range of 550 km, and measures 5.1 meters in length. Its height is 480 mm and width is 630 mm. This missile can be launched from Mirage 2000, Rafale, and Su-24 aircraft.

 

So, in conclusion, this is how India responded, with a punitive, disproportionate, and visible strike. It wasn’t hidden or vague. It was a clear message: if you sponsor terror, you will pay the price. These were the broad contours of our military retaliation: strong, strategic, and justified.

 

To those talking about a full-fledged war, let’s be clear: India did not start a war, India retaliated. This operation was a direct response to Pakistan’s support for the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed innocent lives.

 

Now the ball is in Pakistan’s court. Do they want to escalate into a full-fledged war, or do they care enough about their own civilians to step back? 

 

(Disclaimer: The author, Tripti Verma is currently interning with India.com, where she contributes regularly with news articles and opinion pieces such as this.)

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