Operation Sindoor a success; but would a prolonged war prove detrimental?

The poignant image of a newly-married Himanshi Narwal sitting beside the body of her husband Lieutenant Vinay Narwal of the Indian Navy in Pahalgham had become a haunting symbol of the April 22 terror attack. There were demands for a swift and decisive action in response to the brutal attack.

The response did come, but it went beyond missiles and fighter jets. The military operation was given a name rich in cultural and emotional symbolism: Operation Sindoor. ‘Sindoor’, the Hindi word for vermilion that symbolises the marital status of a Hindu woman, was reportedly chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The messaging was not just for the perpetrators, but also for the victims and the nation. Unlike past military operations with technical or valorous names, such as Vijay, Parakram, Trident or Balakot (codenamed Operation Bandar), Operation Sindoor evoked themes of loss, justice and national resolve.

Himanshi, who drew both sympathy for her loss and later online criticism for urging peace and cautioning against communal backlash, welcomed the military response. “My husband was in the defence forces. He wanted to keep peace and protect innocent lives,” she said. “He wanted to make sure that there was no hatred and terror in this country. This operation signifies his spirit, that hate and terror will not be tolerated by the Indian government.”

Agreed BJP spokesman Gopal Krishna Agarwal, who said the messaging behind the name was that this kind of heinous act was not acceptable: “The women of India, and every person of all religions, are against this kind of terrorist action that seeks to create religious strife within India.”

Adding another layer to the symbolic messaging, two women officers―Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh―were chosen to brief the media. Their presence was widely interpreted as a gesture of inclusivity and strategic communication, aimed not only at Indian citizens but also at Pakistan.

Speaking at a rally in Bihar two days after the Pahalgam attack, Modi pledged a forceful response: “India will identify, track and punish every terrorist, their handlers and their backers. Terrorism will not go unpunished.” By following through on that pledge, Modi has once again aligned his actions with his image of muscular nationalism. It is perhaps for the first time since 1971 that India has struck over 100km inside Pakistani territory. With the first year of his third term nearing completion, the burden of delivering a decisive counter-terror operation has eased.

However, any extended conflict with Pakistan could pose greater risks to India, given its more developed infrastructure and ambitions to emerge as a global manufacturing hub, especially as a counterweight to China. Prolonged tension is not in the nation’s economic or strategic interest.

Nonetheless, the nationalistic fervour and the rare political consensus following Operation Sindoor mark a contrast from earlier episodes. After the Balakot air strikes in 2019, opposition parties had demanded proof and criticised what they viewed as the politicisation of the armed forces. This time, however, political voices have largely echoed public sentiment. The government, too, engaged with the opposition, holding all-party meetings after the attack and Operation Sindoor. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi praised the armed forces, affirming their full support. AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi went a step further to proclaim “Pakistan Murdabad” on X.

If the BJP government got full benefit of the Balakot air strikes ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Operation Sindoor may accrue similar benefits to the party in the upcoming assembly polls. As Modi had delivered a strong message from Bihar, slogans on Operation Sindoor are likely to resonate across the state when it goes to polls in October-November. As women voters have emerged a decisive factor in most polls, the terminology of the operation, too, will strike a chord with them.

Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha campaign, a series of bomb blasts took place near a park where Modi was set to address a rally in Patna on October 27, 2013. His careful management of the crowd as he delivered his speech resonated across the state, and the NDA won 39 of 40 seats. If the Pahalgam attack was meant to deliver a message to Modi, his party and supporters will frame this operation as his unequivocal reply.

Agarwal says the message is unambiguous: India will not tolerate any form of terrorist activity originating from across its borders. “A fitting response will be delivered to anyone who infringes upon the country’s sovereignty or disturbs its internal peace,” he said. “Pakistan stands increasingly isolated, and the message is clear that those who perpetrate terrorism will pay the price.”

BJP leaders welcomed the support given by all political parties for the action, saying it was reassuring to see unity at the national level. However, certain political voices continue to promote confusion and indulge in vote-bank politics, said Agarwal, quoting the recent statements by Congress leaders like Siddaramaiah, Ajay Rai and even Robert Vadra.

The Modi government’s response to the terror attack has been multi-pronged. It has suspended the Indus Water Treaty, stopped trade and cancelled visas. But fears of an extended conflict may stretch the rare consensus among political parties and dampen the euphoria over the initial success of Operation Sindoor.