The Indian armed forces successfully carried out 'Operation Sindoor' early Wednesday morning, striking nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. The Indian Army announced the launch of Operation Sindoor late Wednesday night, using a visual to represent its name. The operation, which involved precise pre-dawn strikes, was a joint effort by the Army, Navy, and Indian Air Force (IAF). The strikes targeted terrorist facilities in both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).

"A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched OPERATION SINDOOR, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed. Altogether, nine sites have been targeted," a statement issued by the Indian Army said. Terrorists supported by Pakistan specifically targeted Hindu men and shot them at close range in Baisaran, a scenic meadow in Pahalgam that’s popular with honeymooners. After the tragic attack on April 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi named the military response “Operation Sindoor” to honour the widows of those who were killed, according to top government sources quoted by India Today TV. 

Himanshi Narwal from Haryana, Aishanya Dwivedi from Uttar Pradesh, Shital Kalathiya and Kajalben Parmar from Gujarat, Sohini Adhikari from Kolkata, Pragati Jagdale from Maharashtra, Sheela Ramachandran from Kerala, Jennifer Nathaniel from Madhya Pradesh, and Jaya Mishra are the women whose husbands were killed by terrorists in Pahalgam. Among them, Himanshi Narwal, who had been married for just six days, became the face of the tragedy when she was seen kneeling beside the body of her husband, Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal.

A few days later, she was seen paying tribute to him, but without the sindoor (vermilion) on her forehead—a symbol traditionally worn by married Hindu women. While the cruelty of the attack shocked the nation, it was the young faces of these women that gave India strength and determination to stand firm. The women, still grieving from their loss, were forced by terrorists to deliver a threatening message.

India has responded to that message with strong military action — a mission called Operation Sindoor. The name “Operation Sindoor” is powerful because it reminds us that the victims of the Pahalgam massacre were real people with families, not just statistics. It also sends a strong message that India will not let such losses go unanswered — we will strike back for the lives that meant so much to us. A small streak of vermilion powder (called sindoor) on a bride’s forehead shows that she is married and that her husband is alive. It has deep cultural and traditional meaning for Hindu married women. In some customs, sindoor is also connected to Maa Parvati, who stands for love, devotion, and a strong bond between husband and wife. Besides marriage, sindoor also has a warrior meaning. In India, many warriors used to apply a tilak or tika—often made of sindoor—on their foreheads before going into battle to show courage and strength.

Rajput and Maratha warriors were often shown with a shining red mark on their foreheads, proudly lifting their heads while defending their land and Dharma (righteousness). This situation, too, became a fight for Dharma, because innocent lives had been lost. While Pakistan and the terrorists it supports have repeatedly harmed Indian civilians, India has responded with great restraint, targeting only terrorist camps and bases. This careful approach was clearly stated in India’s official message on Wednesday. India clearly stated that its counterstrikes were carefully planned and non-provocative, with specific targets chosen with precision.

“A total of nine (9) sites have been precisely targeted. Our operations have been deliberate, restrained, and non-escalatory. No Pakistani military installations were struck. India has exercised significant restraint in both the choice of targets and the manner of execution. These actions follow the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national. We remain firmly committed to holding those responsible accountable. A detailed briefing on 'OPERATION SINDOOR' will be provided later today,” the defence ministry said.