One Month After Operation Sindoor: Exclusive Details Reveal Depth of India’s Strike, Its Wider Impact

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One month after the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor—a swift and calculated cross-border retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack—exclusive information accessed by BharatShakti from top military sources, reveals that the scale, sophistication, and impact of the operation were far greater than what was initially made public. As national security planners and senior military leadership quietly observed the one-month mark on June 7, BharatShakti has learned—based on action reports, digital intelligence, and detailed damage assessments—that the mission involved deeper strikes, heavier losses for Pakistan’s military infrastructure, and a broader theatre of operations than previously acknowledged.

According to classified action taken reports and battlefield assessments by the three services, the Indian Air Force shot down four Pakistani fighter jets—all Chinese-origin platforms—and two large surveillance aircraft, likely two F-16 fighter aircraft, a C-130J and a SAAB 2000 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system. These engagements occurred as Indian forces struck across Pakistan and PoK between May 7 and May 10 in one of the most technologically sophisticated operations in recent military history.

Moreover, the IAF fired more than a dozen and half BrahMos cruise missiles and a nearly equal number of French SCALP air-launched missiles on Pakistani airbases and terror infrastructure. Thirteen Pakistani airbases were hit, including deeper targets in Peshawar, Hyderabad, Bahawalnagar, and Chhor, according to a leaked internal Pakistani report reviewed by BharatShakti. Combined with drone strikes and artillery fire, India is now assessed to have inflicted Pakistan over $7.6 billion in damage, severely degrading Pakistan’s air defence and ISR capabilities.

Phase 1: From Pahalgam to the War Room

Following the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam that left multiple civilians dead, the wheels of India’s security architecture moved quickly. Within 48 hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval convened with the three Service Chiefs at South Block’s war room.

According to sources, by April 29, the Prime Minister had granted the armed forces full operational freedom with one objective: deliver a surgical, punitive strike to dismantle terror infrastructure without pushing the region toward full-scale war.

The directive was clear — swift retribution, zero escalation.

Phase 2: Tri-Service Mobilization, Deceptive Drills, Strategic Posturing

As tensions simmered, Pakistan issued naval firing alerts, anticipating Indian retaliation. But India’s preparations unfolded behind a smokescreen of routine military activity:

• The Indian Army, under Exercise Viper Strike, simulated mechanized thrusts near the Rajasthan border, preparing for potential escalation.
• The Indian Air Force launched Exercise Aakram, placing Rafale, Mirage-2000, and Su-30MKI squadrons on operational alert.
• The Indian Navy quietly moved the INS Vikrant and its carrier battle group into the Arabian Sea, reinforcing maritime readiness.
• What appeared to be regular drills were, in reality, live rehearsals for an imminent strike.

Phase 3: The Deception Playbook and Precision Preparations

To maintain strategic ambiguity, India announced a nationwide civil defence mock drill on May 7. While sirens blared across cities, the real theatre of operations was being activated.

Sources confirmed that target coordinates were finalised during high-level tri-service briefings, including terror launch pads in Muridke, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, and multiple locations across the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POJK). The final validation of the targets came just hours before the launch.

Phase 4: The 22-Minute Lightning Strikes Beyond Known Boundaries

At 1:05 AM on May 7, Operation Sindoor was launched.

What started as a 22-minute blitz against terror launchpads across the LoC quickly expanded into a multi-phase military campaign executed with surgical precision. Indian drones, cruise missiles, and loitering munitions targeted terror camps, command posts, and radar installations not only in POJK but deep inside Pakistani territory, many of which were not disclosed in initial briefings.

Among the key targets struck:

• Markaz-e-Taiba (LeT HQ in Muridke) was crippled by four to five Crystal Maze missiles designed for internal collapse without major surface damage.
• The Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Markaz-e-Subhan Allah training base was flattened entirely by six SCALP missiles launched from Rafale jets, using bunker-busting warheads.
• Israeli loitering munitions, fired jointly by the IAF and Indian Navy, obliterated terror camps in PoK.
• M777 howitzers, using U.S.-made Excalibur precision rounds, destroyed Tier 2 Pakistani Army defences across the LoC, assisted by Polish-origin loitering extended-range ammunition.
• In under 30 minutes, by 1:27 AM, the operation had concluded. Nine major terror camps were destroyed — all linked to the Pahalgam attack module and over 100 terrorists were killed.

Phase 5: Pakistan’s Short-Lived Response & the Second Wave

Pakistan’s retaliatory move—Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos—was launched with the goal of disrupting Indian defences within 48 hours. Instead, it folded within eight hours on May 10, as confirmed by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan in a post-operation review. Indian air defences, including S-400 systems and surface-to-air missile batteries, intercepted multiple incoming threats and ensured zero damage to critical infrastructure.

In response, on May 9–10, Phase II of Operation Sindoor was executed. The IAF launched precision strikes on 13 Pakistani air bases, severely damaging runways, radar systems, and fuel depots. It blunted Pakistan’s retaliatory capability without breaching red lines.

The Wider Theatre — Phase II and Beyond

Between May 7 and the evening of May 10, Indian forces launched wider strikes than previously acknowledged:

• 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations were targeted.
• Drones launched by India struck as far west as Peshawar and as far south as Hyderabad, according to a leaked Pakistani internal report.
• Additional strikes were confirmed on sites in Attock, Bahawalnagar, Gujrat, Jhang, Chhor, and other locations — seven of which were not mentioned in India’s official briefings.
• Damage estimates now exceed $7.6 billion, with losses ranging from F-16s and AWACS systems to critical radar nodes and missile batteries.

Pakistan’s retaliatory effort, Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, folded within eight hours on May 10, far short of its 48-hour objective, as revealed by CDS Gen Anil Chauhan on June 3.

Air Dominance and Aerial Kills

According to digital battlefield evidence reviewed by BharatShakti, the Indian Air Force, supported by the S-400 Triumf air defence system and SAM batteries, achieved a stunning success during the operation:

• Four Chinese-origin Pakistani fighter jets were shot down.
• Two large aircraft — possibly a C-130J and a SAAB 2000 AEW&C — were also destroyed, disrupting Pakistani air command-and-control capabilities.

The scale of the air engagement suggests India not only struck targets — it controlled the aerial battlespace from Kashmir to the Arabian Sea.

Phase 6: The Strategic Aftermath: Operation Sindoor Isn’t Over

On May 10, the Ministry of Defence formally declared the conclusion of Operation Sindoor Phase II. Yet, according to sources, the Indian military remains in a high state of alert, fully aware that further escalations or proxy attacks are likely to occur.

“The focus now is on rapid replenishment, equipment replenishment, and ISR (intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance) dominance,” a senior officer confirmed.

As Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly stated, Operation Sindoor is not just a response — it is a message, and that message is ongoing.

A New Template for India’s Counter-Terror Policy

Operation Sindoor signals a strategic evolution in India’s counter-terror doctrine—merging precision military technology with political decisiveness. The mission, greenlit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 29, was designed to hit hard but remain below the war threshold. That objective was clearly met.

Post-operation briefings and resupply protocols indicate that the armed forces are preparing for follow-on contingencies, especially if Pakistan-backed proxy groups attempt further cross-border actions.

A senior defence official summed up the shift:

“We’re now operating on a doctrine of controlled escalation with overwhelming precision. The message is clear: India’s thresholds have changed.”

What Lies Ahead

While the Indian government has refrained from celebrating Operation Sindoor in the public domain, the strategic message has been quietly received in all the right capitals—Islamabad, Beijing, and Washington, among them.

The operation not only brought justice for the Pahalgam massacre but also served as a testbed for joint-force operations, real-time ISR fusion, and long-range strike coordination across services. The full implications of Operation Sindoor—militarily and diplomatically—are still unfolding.

But one thing is clear: India has redrawn the limits of its strategic patience.

Ravi Shankar/Huma Siddiqui

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