Operation Sindoor: A Geopolitical Turning Point for India By Anupam Srivastava

Operation Sindoor: A Geopolitical Turning Point for India

By Anupam Srivastava

In the aftermath of the recently executed Operation Sindoor, a striking new clarity has emerged in India’s geopolitical landscape. This was not merely a tactical military engagement with Pakistan, but a defining moment in India's strategic evolution.

Operation Sindoor, a meticulously coordinated and surgically executed four-day 'Strikes', marked a profound shift in India’s defense posture. More than a military strike, it unmasked a complex matrix of global and domestic actors united in their objective to derail India’s emergence as a global power. Analysts now agree—Pakistan is not the central threat, but a pawn in a larger, transnational opposition facing India.

The Multipolar Threat Matrix

China: The Architect of Disruption

China remains India’s principal long-term strategic adversary. Repeated provocations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), particularly during the Doklam standoff (2017), the Galwan clash (2020), and continued friction in Arunachal Pradesh, highlight Beijing’s intent to pressure India militarily while encircling it geopolitically.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), built through illegally occupied territory in Gilgit-Baltistan, not only violates India’s sovereignty but also ties China’s economic and military fate with Pakistan's. Intelligence cooperation, arms transfers, and strategic infrastructure in PoK illustrate how Beijing uses Pakistan as a surrogate to keep India distracted and overextended.

Turkey: The Islamic Populist Ally of Pakistan

Under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has emerged as an increasingly vocal critic of India. It consistently raises the Kashmir issue at the UN and funds NGOs that push anti-India narratives globally. More worryingly, its influence is growing in South Asian Islamist networks, particularly in regions with Muslim-majority populations, where Turkish religious and media entities subtly stoke identity-based divisions.

The U.S. Deep State and Strategic Hesitations

Though India shares warm ties with the U.S. at the executive level, elements within its institutional apparatus—commonly referred to as the “Deep State”—often act in ways that undermine India's interests. Whether it's through critical media coverage, congressional censure, or indirect funding of groups antagonistic to Indian policy, these actors prioritize American hegemony over regional stability.

India must remain cautious about over-relying on the West, especially given recent examples where Western support did not translate into strategic success for their allies.

Internal Saboteurs: The Enemy Within

Perhaps the most insidious threat to India's stability is domestic in nature. Certain sections of India's political elite, intelligentsia, and media frequently align—either out of ideology or ignorance—with foreign interests.

From pushing caste-based census campaigns to endorsing separatist dialogues, these groups often echo narratives seeded by hostile states. Their resistance to military operations, suspicion of national security agencies, and frequent denigration of the armed forces erode national unity and weaken India’s internal resilience.

This phenomenon—sometimes described as “intellectual insurgency”—feeds off global liberal institutions, foreign-funded NGOs, and academic circles. It is vital for India to address this head-on if it is to preserve national coherence in the face of global opposition.

Lessons from Ukraine and Israel: Beware the Trap

Ukraine: A Sovereign State Sacrificed

The war in Ukraine offers a cautionary tale. Backed heavily by NATO and the U.S., Ukraine entered into a catastrophic conflict with Russia. Over 40,000 Russian and 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers have reportedly died. Despite receiving billions in military aid, Ukraine now finds itself with 25% of its territory under occupation and its infrastructure decimated.

Western support came with conditions and limitations. Despite rhetoric, NATO refused to enforce a no-fly zone or offer troops on the ground, effectively ensuring Ukraine bore the brunt of the conflict alone. And now US has taken rare earth minerals rights against helping Ukraine. Now what remains with Ukrain is destroyed cities and no earth to drill. 

Israel: The Limits of Technological Superiority

Israel’s long-term engagement in Gaza, despite its technological superiority, has not eliminated the threat of Hamas. While Israel has killed over 60,000 militants, Hamas still holds dozens of hostages and maintains its operational capacity.

The lesson here is critical: technology and military prowess do not guarantee decisive or quick victory in asymmetric or ideological warfare. India must take heed.

The Bangladesh Front: A Foiled Strategy of Subversion

What remains underreported is the failed attempt by India’s adversaries to destabilize Bangladesh—a key ally and strategic partner. Intelligence sources suggest there were efforts to back anti-India political forces in Dhaka, aiming to install a regime hostile to Indian interests.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s survival and renewed cooperation with India is a major geopolitical win. It not only foiled external plans for regional destabilization but reaffirmed India’s diplomatic standing in South Asia.

Operation Sindoor: A Tactical and Psychological Masterstroke

Though most operational details remain classified, credible sources confirm that Operation Sindoor was aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure across Pakistan-occupied territories. Critical sites such as Kirana Hills—long suspected of hosting nuclear and chemical weapon depots—were targeted with precision.

Unconfirmed reports suggest possible radiation leaks post-strike, pointing to India’s willingness to cross previously sacrosanct lines in pursuit of strategic objectives. The destruction of launchpads, command centers, and arms depots effectively paralyzed Pakistan’s terror ecosystem.

Psychologically, the blow was even more devastating. Protests erupted across Pakistan over food, fuel, and institutional decay. Rumors of military dissent surfaced, and Islamabad sued for a ceasefire—an act viewed not as a concession by India, but a calculated show of restraint after strategic victory.

Pakistan: An Ideological Threat, Not Just a Rogue One

Pakistan remains an existential threat not only for India but for world —not because of its conventional military capacity, but because of its ideological idiosyncrasies. Born from the idea of communal hatred and separation, its national identity is inherently oppositional to India's secular and pluralistic ethos.

Extremist ideology is not a fringe element in Pakistan; it is embedded in the very fabric of the state's identity and institutional machinery. From school textbooks to television programs, from religious sermons, course books to political discourse, the demonization of India—particularly Hindus—is systematically cultivated and reinforced. This is not a product of rogue elements but a deliberate state-supported narrative that has persisted since the country’s inception in 1947.

Children in Pakistan grow up immersed in this ideology. From an early age, they are taught distorted versions of history that glorify aggression against India and portray Hindus as eternal enemies. This psychological conditioning creates a population that views conflict with India not as a political disagreement, but as a religious and civilizational war. This deeply ingrained hatred ensures that peace with India is not just improbable—it is structurally impossible under Pakistan's current political and ideological framework.

At the heart of this radicalization lie over 40,000 madrasas spread across Pakistan. These religious seminaries collectively educate an estimated 15 million (1.5 crore) students, many of whom receive little to no instruction in secular subjects. A significant portion of these madrasas operate outside formal regulation and are known to preach extremist ideologies, foster anti-Hindu sentiments, and glorify jihad as a religious duty.

This network serves as a breeding ground for militancy. Over the decades, countless terrorists and radical operatives have emerged from these institutions, joining outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and the Taliban. Unless this vast infrastructure of indoctrination is dismantled, Pakistan will remain the epicenter of global terrorism. The world must recognize that any meaningful counter-terrorism strategy must begin with dismantling the ideological roots—starting with reforming or shutting down radical madrasas that perpetuate hatred and violence.

India must move beyond reactive diplomacy and embrace a long-term strategy that addresses this reality.

Strategic Recalibration: Time for a New Doctrine

Operation Sindoor offers a rare window to reset India’s national security framework across multiple dimensions:

1. Military Modernization

India must invest aggressively in the modernization of all three branches of its military:

Air Force: Acquire stealth-capable fifth-generation fighters, long-range bombers, hypersonic cruise missiles, and advanced radar-evading systems.

Navy: Expand aircraft carrier groups, nuclear-powered submarines, underwater drones, and missile destroyers with stealth capability.

Army: Procure next-gen artillery, robotic ground units, loitering munitions, and hypersonic ballistic missiles akin to HIMARS systems.

2. Cyber and Space Warfare Capabilities

India needs dedicated cyber and space commands. Cyberattacks, satellite jamming, and AI-driven information warfare will define the next conflict. Offensive and defensive capacities in this domain are as vital as tanks and jets.

3. Internal Intelligence Overhaul

The intelligence apparatus must be predictive, not reactive. Advanced data analytics, AI-driven surveillance, and covert action capabilities must be enhanced to preempt internal and external threats.

Diplomacy: From Defensive to Assertive

India must abandon its defensive diplomatic posture and go on the offensive:

Expose Turkey: Call out its occupation of Northern Cyprus, persecution of Kurds, and Islamist export policies.

Highlight Chinese Imperialism: Consistently raise issues like Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong at the UN and global summits.

Reform Global Institutions: Demand restructuring of global tech and trade regulations to counter Western monopolies.

At international forums, India must shape narratives—not merely respond to them.

Domestic Resilience: The Frontlines Within

Security starts from within. India must challenge:

Caste-based Fragmentation: Avoid policies that divide society on caste or regional lines.

Religious Radicalization: Monitor and curtail foreign-funded religious organizations promoting separatist ideologies.

Academic Subversion: Reform educational content and prevent ideological capture of academic institutions.

Unity, clarity of purpose, and a robust civil society are as vital as a strong Country.

The Strategic Road Ahead

India stands at a historic crossroads. Operation Sindoor was not the end—it was a beginning. A new era of assertive geopolitics has dawned, one where India is no longer the reactive regional actor but a proactive global force.

But this journey will be tested repeatedly—by China’s ambition, by Pakistan’s ideology, by Turkey’s rhetoric, and by internal disunity. India’s success will depend on a clear, cohesive, and comprehensive national strategy that balances military might, diplomatic agility, and internal integrity.

India:  A Nation Reborn Through Fire

The message of Operation Sindoor is clear: India is prepared—not just to defend itself but to define its place in the 21st century. The days of strategic hesitation are over. India has acted, and it must now plan with the clarity and courage of a rising power.

As challenges mount, the nation must remain vigilant, unified, and visionary. Only then can the sacrifices of its soldiers and the spirit of its people lead to a future where India is not merely a regional power—but a civilizational force shaping the destiny of Asia and the world.

Anupam Srivastava is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times for the last 25 years. With Special interest in Defence, Strategic, Tactical and Geopolitical writings.