 "India's Operation Sindoor a 'rare & unambiguous military victory': Top warfare experts")
India’s Operation Sindoor has been a rare and complete victory that demonstrates a new counter-terrorism doctrine, according to experts.
John Spencer, the world’s leading expert of modern warfare, has said that Operation Sindoor was a “rare and unambiguous victory”.
In an article titled ‘Operation Sindoor: A Decisive Victory in Modern Warfare’, Spencer said that India had mounted the operation with clear objectives in mind and achieved those objectives. He further said that India did not fall in certain traps, but stuck to the objectives and achieved them.
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Unlike the 26/11 Mumbai attacks of 2008 when India did not take any kinetic action, the doctrine put in place by Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not absorb attacks, said Spencer.
“The India of 2008 absorbed attacks and waited. This India hits back—immediately, precisely, and with clarity,” said Spencer.
Other experts, such as Prof Christine Fair of Georgetown University, have also said that Operation Sindoor was a decisive campaign that conveyed Indian message clearly.
‘This was the unveiling of a strategic doctrine’
Spencer said that Operation Sindoor was not just about accomplishing a military campaign but it was about “unveiling of a strategic doctrine”.
Spencer said that the Operation Sindoor achieved its strategic aims: destroying terrorist infrastructure, demonstrating military superiority, restoring deterrence, and unveiling a new national security doctrine.
Under Operation Sindoor, India struck nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) on May 7. The next morning, India struck air defence units and radar sites in Pakistan in response to Pakistan attacks the previous nights. In response to continued Pakistani aggression, India struck at least eight Pakistani airbases in addition to radar sites, air defence units, and other military facilities over next two days.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSpencer said that Operation Sindoor achieved five strategic effects:
A new red line was drawn: Acts of terror attacks from Pakistani soil will now be met with military force. Operation Sindoor set a precedent.
Military superiority demonstrated: India showcased its ability to strike any target in Pakistan at will with precision strikes, including some of the crown jewels of the military, such as Chaklala and Sargodha airbases.
Restored deterrence: India restored deterrence while remaining below the threshold of war.
Asserted strategic Independence: India handled Operation Sindoor without seeking or caring about international mediation or validation.
Spencer further said that the criticism that the ceasefire came too soon is misplaced. He said that the real significance of Operation Sindoor lies not in the scale of destruction but in the achievement of desired political effect.
ALSO READ: New 3-point Modi doctrine redefines India’s war on terrorism
“India was not fighting for vengeance. It was fighting for deterrence. And it worked. India’s restraint is not weakness — it is maturity. It imposed costs, redefined thresholds, and retained escalation dominance. India didn’t just respond to an attack. It changed the strategic equation,” said Spencer.
‘Operation Sindoor shows India’s resolve’
Operation Sindoor represents a significant escalation in India’s retaliatory strategy and signals the country’s resolve, according to Michael Kugelman, the Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, Washington, DC.
Prof. Christine Fair of Georgetown University said, “Operation Sindoor represents a significant escalation in India’s retaliatory strategy, targeting multiple terrorist sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, signaling India’s resolve.”
Open-source analyst Damien Symon said that Operation Sindoor “sent a clear message to Pakistan’s military establishment about India’s willingness to act decisively against terrorism”.
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