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Though the dust of conflict along the India-Pakistan border is yet to fully settle, credible evidence indicates that Pakistan’s losses during Operation Sindoor were substantial—far exceeding its capacity to sustain further military engagement. Brig SK Chatterji (Retd), Editor, BharatShakti, engaged Lt Gen Philip Campose (Retd), former Vice Chief of Army Staff and Army Commander, Western Command, in an in-depth discussion on the nature of Operation Sindoor—its limited scale, short duration, and the marked shift it reflected toward high-technology warfare.
Minimal Mobilisation, Maximum Impact
Operation Sindoor demonstrated a significant shift in India’s military posture. Unlike traditional conflicts, there was no large-scale mobilisation. Instead, the Indian Armed Forces relied heavily on precision-guided, stand-off weapons launched from ground-based and airborne platforms.
General Campose observed, “Exercise Parakram taught us that large-scale mobilisation is too time-consuming and dilutes the elements of speed and surprise. We therefore adopted a proactive doctrine—strike first, mobilise later.”
This doctrine was first practised during the 2015 cross-border raid into Myanmar following an insurgent ambush. Since then, India has responded with calibrated, punitive strikes in 2016, 2019, and now in 2025. Each successive operation has seen a lowering of the threshold for retaliation yet a significant escalation in scale and effect. In the case of Operation Sindoor, following a terror strike in Pahalgam, Pakistan was forced to seek peace within just four days—underscoring the effectiveness of India’s deterrent response.
A Doctrine Reimagined
India’s emerging doctrine, shaped by political guidance, mandates rapid, proportionate, and visible responses to acts of terrorism. Operation Sindoor, possibly modelled on the Balakot playbook, was a limited offensive—carefully calibrated to remain well below the threshold of full-scale war. While sustaining such operations over a prolonged period would require significantly greater capability, India’s clearly defined political-military objectives and Pakistan’s early capitulation ensured a swift and decisive outcome.
Looking Ahead: A Triangular Threat
The future, however, poses more complex challenges. “The next conflict could involve China, Pakistan, and terrorist elements acting in tandem,” warned General Campose. Even during Operation Sindoor, Chinese footprints were evident—in the use of electronic warfare, satellite capabilities, and advanced platforms. Turkish support to Pakistan was also conspicuous, with multiple aircraft delivering military equipment and drones playing a prominent role in the conflict.
With nearly 80% of Pakistan’s defence hardware sourced from China, their growing involvement—at least technologically—is inevitable. China may not engage directly in a future conflict but could escalate tensions along the Line of Actual Control to divert Indian formations from the Western front. “While direct Chinese military intervention remains unlikely, their support to Pakistan in the form of technology and equipment could intensify,” Campose noted.
The Information War: A Front We’re Losing
Operation Sindoor also highlighted a significant shortcoming—India’s inability to shape the global narrative. Despite the gravity of two nuclear powers engaging in conflict, international reactions were muted, and global media coverage was sparse. “The international community was not as sympathetic as we had hoped,” remarked Campose. India must urgently enhance its information warfare capabilities, develop a compelling strategic narrative, and engage proactively with global stakeholders to garner broader support.
Defence Spending: Falling Short of Strategic Needs
Current defence allocations are inadequate to prepare for future conflicts—particularly against a technologically superior adversary like China. With a belligerent Pakistan under a newly anointed Field Marshal, General Asif Munir, sustained peace remains unlikely.
“The military plans 15 years ahead, broken into 5-year and annual plans. We must abandon legacy platforms and reduce reliance on ad hoc, government-to-government procurements,” Campose emphasised. While emergency procurement powers have helped in the short term, overdependence on them reveals structural inefficiencies in defence financial planning. A comprehensive overhaul is overdue.
A Rogue Field Marshal
The sole beneficiary in Pakistan appears to be General Asif Munir, who has now been elevated to the rank of Field Marshal. But this symbolic elevation is unlikely to temper his posture. Far from turning pacifist, the rogue General remains defiant—and another provocation cannot be ruled out.
Team BharatShakti
