The Pahalgam attack triggered one of India's swiftest military-planning cycles

The devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed 26 civilian lives, set into motion one of India’s fastest and most decisive military response planning cycles in recent decades.

Within 48 hours of the attack, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had already prepared and presented its strike options, demonstrating not only readiness but also the speed at which modern military doctrine in India now operates.

Speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit, Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, revealed exclusive operational details about how planning, authorisation, and execution of retaliatory measures unfolded under what came to be called Operation Sindoor.

Immediately following the massacre, top political and military leadership swung into action. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, curtailed his diplomatic engagement and rushed back to New Delhi. Home Minister Amit Shah flew to Srinagar the same night to personally review the security situation in a high-level meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

This was quickly followed by a central security meeting on April 23, bringing together senior members of the armed forces and intelligence community to outline India’s immediate and long-term response strategies. By April 24, the IAF had formally submitted its strike options, showcasing the efficiency and readiness of the force.

Even as military options were being considered, India moved to apply non-military pressure on Pakistan through unilateral punitive measures. Implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty was suspended, effectively halting planned water-sharing provisions.

The government closed the Attari Integrated Check Post, abruptly cutting trade and cross-border civilian movement. Stricter visa regulations were imposed, including complete suspension of SAARC visa exemptions for Pakistanis.

Within a week, Pakistani defence advisors posted in Delhi were expelled, signalling India’s determination to reduce formal engagement channels. Parallel to these steps, on April 25, the government convened an all-party briefing with leaders of 15 political parties, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, to present India’s case and build political consensus on retaliatory measures.

Soon after the political and diplomatic measures, the military planning process accelerated. On April 29, India short-listed nine targets for multi-pronged retaliation. Out of these, seven targets along the Line of Control (LoC) were assigned to the Indian Army, primarily for artillery strikes and cross-border punitive operations, while the two most critical deep-strike objectives were entrusted to the Air Force: the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters in Muridke (about 30 km from the international border) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters in Bahawalpur (about 100 km inside Pakistani territory). Both facilities had long been under Indian surveillance, with intelligence inputs indicating the presence of terrorist leadership, training infrastructure, and operational hubs linked to cross-border attacks.

The first strike package targeted the Muridke facility, a sprawling complex considered the nerve centre of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The IAF planned precision attacks on four critical points within the compound – the administrative block, designated operational markers, and two residential quarters used by top cadres. 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) reconnaissance and advanced airborne sensors confirmed direct hits on all chosen structures, with precision penetration strikes minimising collateral damage while delivering maximum structural devastation. Internal video evidence reviewed afterward confirmed widespread destruction inside the Lashkar compound, with both functional and leadership-command zones left in ruins.

The strike on Bahawalpur, the more deeply entrenched Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters, presented larger operational challenges due to its greater distance from the international border and the heavily defended Pakistani airspace in the region.

Five targets were chosen in the Bahawalpur compound, including multiple leadership residences and central administrative facilities. Although bomb damage assessment was complex given the depth of penetration into Pakistani territory and subsequent Pakistani countermeasures, intelligence indicated substantial disruption to command and control infrastructure. The precision attacks ensured that Jaish’s leadership hubs suffered extensive damage, even if exact casualty figures remained unknown due to heightened secrecy imposed by Pakistani authorities.

The strikes were scheduled on May 5, after detailed planning and final approval at the highest levels of government, and were executed in the early hours of May 6–7. The dual strikes, assisted by electronic warfare cover and real-time surveillance, displayed the Air Force’s ability to strike at will, deep inside hostile territory, while retaining the ability to manage escalation.

This also showcased a noticeable doctrinal shift – from cautious responses confined largely to the LoC to strategic, high-precision strikes deep inside Pakistan’s terror strongholds.

Operation Sindoor thus emerged not merely as a tactical retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack but as a defining moment in India’s counterterrorism doctrine. It demonstrated a 48-hour turnaround from attack to readiness, combined military precision with political decisiveness, and showcased India’s willingness to hold terror sponsors accountable beyond the LoC.

The sustained use of both hard and hybrid power measures – from suspension of treaties and diplomatic expulsions to cross-border kinetic operations – reflected a broad-spectrum response calibrated to deter future attacks, while also sending a clear message of India’s operational reach and intent.

Based On NDTV Report