Pahalgam Attack and Operation Sindoor: When Terror Came for Tourists
This blog post dives into the global and political reactions following the brutal Pahalgam terror attack and India's powerful response through Operation Sindoor. It highlights which nations stood firmly with Bharat, exposed the double standards of usual global players, and reflects how India's unapologetic assertion of its cultural and civilisational identity is reshaping diplomatic narratives.
POLITICS
Riya.K
6/6/20258 min read
It’s easy to look at Kashmir’s postcard-perfect landscapes and forget that, beneath the beauty lies a fragile silence — often broken, always watched. But on April 22, 2025, that silence was shattered in Pahalgam. This wasn’t the frontlines, not a convoy route, not even the site of a political rally. Just a group of tourists — men, women, and children — enjoying their summer holidays in the valley.
And then terror asked them a question: What is your religion?
That question was a death sentence. Read full blog to explore what really happened.
Table of contents:
Table of contents:
Pahalgam Terror Attack: What Happened and Who Was Behind It?
Operation Sindoor: India’s Tactical Strike Explained
The naming of operation ‘SINDOOR’
Official Government Stand: Statements from PIB, MEA, and PM Modi
Global and Political Reactions: Who Stood with India?
Pahalgam Terror Attack: What Happened and Who Was Behind It?
On April 22, 2025, a brutal terrorist attack shook the peaceful town of Pahalgam in South Kashmir, reminding the nation once again that the enemies of Bharat’s peace remain active and emboldened. What should have been a quiet summer day for tourists turned into a scene of blood and horror when a group of heavily armed terrorists unleashed indiscriminate gunfire on a group of Hindu tourists visiting the picturesque Baisaran Valley, a popular destination near Pahalgam. Dressed in what appeared to be security uniforms, the attackers struck with military precision, choosing their moment carefully and executing the assault with the sole aim of targeting non-Muslim civilians. Within minutes, 26 innocent lives were lost, including women and children, and dozens more were severely injured. Eyewitnesses later revealed that the terrorists separated individuals and asked them to recite Islamic verses—a chilling method used in past jihadist attacks to identify and single out Hindus.
The Indian intelligence agencies quickly pieced together the identity of the perpetrators. Evidence pointed towards The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—a Pakistan-based Islamist terrorist group. The TRF had briefly taken responsibility for the massacre on encrypted channels, claiming it was a "message to outsiders," referring to Hindus and other Indian nationals visiting Kashmir. However, in a cowardly retreat, they later disowned the attack, blaming "hacked social media" for the earlier statement. But India’s security apparatus wasn’t fooled. Investigations revealed that the terrorists included two Pakistani nationals and two local Kashmiri operatives, one of whom had previously served as a Pakistani commando—further proof that this was not an isolated terror act, but part of a larger cross-border conspiracy.
Weapons recovered from the site carried Pakistani army markings, and intercepted communications between handlers in Pakistan and the attackers left no room for doubt. The entire operation was guided, if not directly controlled, by elements within the ISI and LeT command structures. This was an anti-Hindu hate crime, designed to scare off pilgrims and tourists, damage Kashmir’s growing stability, and provoke communal unrest. Yet again, Bharat bleeds, not due to any internal failure, but because of the unrelenting jihadist mindset nurtured and protected by Pakistan. This attack must not be forgotten, nor forgiven. The blood of our people demands justice—not silence.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Tactical Strike Explained
In the early hours of May 5, 2025, Bharat gave a thunderous reply to the cowardly Pahalgam attack through a meticulously planned military operation that sent shockwaves across the Line of Control—Operation Sindoor. This was not just a counter-terror operation; it was a message written in fire and steel, stating that India will no longer tolerate bloodshed of its innocents. The operation was launched after conclusive intelligence confirmed that the perpetrators of the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, where 26 Hindu tourists were mercilessly killed, had retreated to terror camps located in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Neelum Valley in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). With surgical precision, Indian armed forces, led by Para SF units, in coordination with RAW and NTRO, executed a joint air-ground artillery strike that neutralized at least 70 terrorists, including TRF commander Abid Ramzan Sheikh, a key planner of the Pahalgam bloodbath. The operation targeted six terror launch pads and two ISI-controlled logistic bases, effectively crippling the infrastructure of Lashkar-e-Taiba and its proxy outfit The Resistance Front (TRF). Drones, satellite intel, and real-time surveillance ensured there were zero civilian casualties, once again highlighting India’s ability to strike with both strength and restraint. What makes Operation Sindoor historic is not just its tactical brilliance but the clarity of political will—Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly gave the green signal within hours of the intelligence confirmation, refusing to let the sacrifices of the Pahalgam victims go unanswered. Unlike previous governments that shivered at the thought of international pressure, this leadership stood firm, and Bharat roared. Even global reactions were telling—nations like France, Israel, and the United States quietly acknowledged India’s right to self-defence, while habitual deniers like China and Pakistan scrambled for diplomatic cover. Pakistan’s Foreign Office feebly denied the existence of terror camps, even as satellite images released by Indian agencies showed destroyed bunkers and launch pads. Operation Sindoor shattered the myth of untouchability that PoK-based terrorists enjoyed for decades, and it reinforced a truth this nation has long stood for—those who shed innocent blood on our soil will face the fire of dharma, backed by the might of a resurgent Bharat. This wasn’t just retaliation; it was retribution with righteousness, carried out not with hate, but with the resolve to protect Sanatan Dharma and every inch of this sacred land. Read more on: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2127370
Naming of operation ‘SINDOOR’
The Naming of Operation Sindoor was not a bureaucratic accident or a randomly generated military code—it was a conscious assertion of civilisational pride, woven deeply into the cultural soul of Bharat. Sindoor, the vermilion worn by married Hindu women in the parting of their hair, is not merely a cosmetic—it is a symbol of sanctity, commitment, dharma, and continuity. It signifies the living essence of Sanatan traditions, and by invoking that name, the Indian state subtly but firmly declared that this battle was not just about borders and bunkers—it was about preserving a civilisation that terrorists have long sought to erase.
By choosing this name, the state paid homage to every woman who wears sindoor with pride, every family that worships peace, and every belief that has been mocked or attacked under the guise of secularism or militancy. It wasn’t just about military retaliation—it was about declaring that Hindus will no longer apologise for their existence, and that an attack on our temples, our yatras, or our people is an attack on our very soul.
Operation Sindoor wasn’t launched from a place of vengeance—it was launched from a place of righteous duty, echoing the age-old idea of Dharma Yuddha. It symbolised that while our civilisation seeks peace, it is not afraid to wield the sword when its very roots are threatened. The name struck a deep chord with millions of Indians—not just for its poetic grace but for its unapologetic clarity: this is who we are, and this is what we will protect.
In a time where even cultural pride is painted as extremism, the Indian state chose to wear its identity on its sleeve—and that is why Operation Sindoor will be remembered not just as a military success, but as a civilisational declaration, boldly asserting that India’s tolerance is not weakness, and her culture is not to be trampled on.
Official Government Stand: Statements from PIB, MEA, and PM Modi
The official response from the Indian government was swift, assertive, and unflinching—a reflection of Bharat’s growing resolve to respond with strength, not silence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a nationally televised address the very next day, called the massacre a “pre-planned jihadist assault on peace-loving pilgrims” and vowed that “every drop of blood spilled in Pahalgam will be avenged.” He did not mince words in naming Lashkar-e-Taiba and its proxy outfit The Resistance Front (TRF) as the perpetrators, directly calling out Pakistan’s ISI for orchestrating the attack. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) released a detailed statement based on intelligence briefings from RAW and MI, confirming that the attack was carried out by militants trained in Muzaffarabad and infiltrated with logistical support from local LeT handlers. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi and lodged a formal protest, handing over dossiers containing satellite imagery, phone intercepts, and detailed profiles of terrorists including Abid Ramzan Sheikh, the TRF commander who coordinated the assault. In a strongly worded press release, the MEA stated that Pakistan’s consistent patronage of terrorist infrastructure in PoK poses a grave threat to regional peace and that Bharat retains the sovereign right to neutralize such threats at the time and place of its choosing. What stood out in the government’s response was not just the clarity of evidence but the unapologetic tone—this wasn’t a ritual condemnation, it was a declaration that India is done playing victim. While certain sections of international media tried to frame the attack as a “Kashmir incident,” PM Modi’s speech went viral with the line: “This was not a strike on a place, this was a strike on our civilisation.” This bold narrative was echoed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, both of whom reiterated that India’s response would be surgical and swift. Their statements, widely quoted by PIB and ANI, showed that this time, New Delhi would not allow another Pulwama-like moment to pass without consequences. True to that promise, Operation Sindoor was launched within days. This is New India—one that speaks softly no more, and strikes hard when dharma is challenged.
Read here: - - - -https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2129503
Global and Political Reactions: Who Stood with India?
The global response to the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor was both revealing and reaffirming—revealing of who truly stands with Bharat in its fight against terrorism and reaffirming the rise of a New India that no longer begs for sympathy but commands respect. As the blood of 26 innocent Hindu pilgrims stained the soil of Baisaran Valley, messages of condemnation poured in, but it was the tone and clarity of some nations that made all the difference. France was one of the first to stand firmly with India, calling the attack an act of “barbaric jihadism” and expressing support for India's right to defend its people. Israel, unsurprisingly, offered not just condolences but technical cooperation and intelligence solidarity, with officials from Mossad quietly coordinating with Indian agencies. The United States, while initially measured, later through a statement by the State Department, recognised The Resistance Front (TRF) and its parent outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba as responsible actors and supported India’s counter-terror strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Meanwhile, Russia, a long-standing ally, not only condemned the attack but also blocked a watered-down UN resolution that failed to name the groups behind the killings. On the other hand, the usual apologists remained predictable. China issued a generic statement urging “restraint from all parties,” conveniently avoiding the fact that the attackers were trained in camps located in Muzaffarabad and Kotli, under the patronage of ISI and Pakistani army assets. Turkey, following its Islamist foreign policy trend, questioned the legitimacy of India’s response while remaining silent on the killings of Hindu civilians. But what was most heartening was how India’s political class—cutting across party lines—stood united behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bold leadership. Even critics of the government had to admit that the surgical precision and moral clarity of Operation Sindoor was unlike anything seen in decades. The naming of terror commanders like Abid Ramzan Sheikh in official dossiers and their confirmed elimination during the strike gave New Delhi a strong diplomatic edge. Indian missions abroad, armed with satellite images, intercepted communications, and testimonials from survivors, launched a full-fledged diplomatic blitz, ensuring that the global narrative didn’t get hijacked this time. In a world where Hindu voices are often dismissed or demonised, this moment stood out—Bharat bled, but Bharat also rose, and the world had no choice but to take note.
Final Thoughts
When I think of the Pahalgam victims, I don’t just think of numbers. I think of families. Of smiling selfies taken hours before the attack. Of laughter echoing through pine forests. Of lives that never imagined their vacation would be their last.
And yet, in their memory, we find a new kind of resolve — one that doesn't scream revenge, but whispers never again.
Operation Sindoor is not the end. It’s just the beginning of a message that India is done tolerating targeted hatred — whether it comes from across the border or hides behind local trees.