Blink and you miss it: Lessons from Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor will be studied not as a war, but as a carefully calibrated military-political act: precise in its aims, swift in its execution, and unambiguous in its message. The lessons we must now draw are paradigmatic.

First, India made the transition from mere retaliation to strategic doctrine. The operation must be understood for what it was – a sovereign declaration that the era of passive deterrence is past. This was retribution with a purpose: to impose costs, exact justice, and deter future provocations. In striking at the logistical and command centres of the Pakistan military, India demonstrated its capacity to engage surgically, but decisively.

In doing so, it laid down a new doctrine: terror attacks on India will no longer be treated as low-cost proxy wars but as acts of war themselves, to be met with full-spectrum responses. This transformation marks a paradigm shift in India’s national security posture. We are no longer in the phase of ‘strategic restraint,’ but entering an age of ‘strategic assertion’ – a move long overdue in a region where ambiguity has often been interpreted as weakness. And such assertion is rooted in sovereignty, legitimacy, and a deeper civilisational ethic.

Second, India is alone but unyielding. Operation Sindoor affirmed a sobering reality: in matters of national security, we are largely alone. The predictable murmurs from Washington, the cautious statements from Beijing, the platitudes for de-escalation from Europe – none of these altered the Indian calculus. Nor should they have. The age of aligning our interests with the global powers is passe; we must now act on the principle of self-reliance in diplomacy as much as in defence. India’s conduct marks a departure from the reactive posture of the previous decades. It is a mature, independent stance – one that signals our refusal to be a geopolitical pawn. The external world will adjust to this new India, but only if we are resolute internally. We must cultivate the strength to act alone, and the wisdom to act proportionately. As Kautilya wrote in the Arthashastra, ‘The king who understands the difference between diplomacy and war is the one who will protect his state.’

Third, economic strength is the basis for military power. Even as we prepare to respond with robustness in the future, we must recall Paul Kennedy’s famous warning in The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: ‘Great powers fall when their military ambitions outpace their economic resources.’ India’s military prowess must rest on the solid foundation of economic vitality. No war can be fought sustainably, nor peace preserved durably, if our economy falters. We must not allow hyper-nationalism to blind us to this fundamental truth. Operation Sindoor succeeded not just because of our military brilliance but because of sustained investments in infrastructure, intelligence, and technology. These are the fruits of economic growth. If we seek to lead, we must stay the course on reforms, on manufacturing, on skilling our youth, and on deepening our integration with global value chains. The path forward is not to militarise our society, but to modernise it – rooted in innovation, entrepreneurship, and institutional capacity.

Fourth, rapid development of science and technology is a necessary condition to enhance India’s strategic autonomy. Operation Sindoor was made possible by satellite intelligence, cyber capability, and unmanned systems – areas where India is finally beginning to demonstrate global competitiveness. The future of warfare – and diplomacy – will be shaped by AI, quantum computing, hypersonic platforms, and space dominance. India must continue to invest aggressively in research and development, not only for military purposes but for national transformation. Strategic autonomy in the 21st century will be measured by the degree of technological sovereignty a nation possesses. To paraphrase former president Abdul Kalam: Dreams are not those that appear while we are asleep, but those that do not let us sleep. Our dream must be to become a knowledge society that powers a resilient state.

Finally, our strength lies in our soul. We must reaffirm what sets India apart – not just from our adversaries, but from much of the world. Ours is a civilisation that values peace but prepares for war. We are a nation whose strength lies in its unity, diversity, and spiritual resilience. Operation Sindoor demonstrated that India can respond with strength without losing its moral compass. We did not target civilians. We did not seek territory. This is the conduct of a responsible power.

Yet, we must guard against the internal corrosion that conflict can breed. Chauvinism, majoritarian triumphalism, and communal rhetoric have no place in our national discourse. It is in our syncretic traditions, democratic ethos, and constitutional values that India’s enduring strength lies. We must remain firm in resolve, humble in conduct, and wise in vision.

(Gurucharan Gollerkeri The former civil servant enjoys traversing the myriad spaces of ideas, thinkers, and books)