Chronicle of Pakistan’s Persistent Hostility & India’s Rise from Defence to Deterrent Dominance

    26-Jul-2025
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Kargil Vijay Diwas: More Than a Memorial

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on 26th July, commemorates India’s decisive victory in the 1999 Kargil War. This day is not merely a remembrance of the sacrifices made during Operation Vijay but serves as a crucial marker in India’s broader strategic evolution. Since its partition in 1947, India has faced persistent and multifaceted hostility from Pakistan, particularly concerning the region of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

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In this context, the 1999 Kargil War represents not just a tactical military victory but a pivotal doctrinal shift. It was the first televised, limited conventional war under nuclear overhang in South Asia, and it exposed both strengths and vulnerabilities in India’s defense establishment. More significantly, it catalyzed an irreversible transformation in India’s strategic thinking, a shift that would ultimately culminate in the assertive, technology-driven Operation Sindoor (2025), a doctrinal manifestation of India’s arrival into a new phase: dominance.

 
 


India's Enduring Struggle Against Pakistan's Proxy War

 
 

India's struggle against Pakistan's proxy war is a protracted one, reflecting Pakistan's continuous conspiracy against India since 1947. This enduring conflict is essentially a battle between Indian nationalism and Pakistan-backed separatism and terrorism. Since 1947, India has been a victim of Pakistan-sponsored separatism, terrorism, and warfare, having defeated Pakistan in four conventional wars, yet Pakistan's efforts persist through direct conflict or proxy warfare/terrorism, involving targeted killings, massacres, and attacks on military and police forces.

 
 

Pakistan has consistently fueled separatism and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947. In response, nationalist citizens in J&K have continuously sacrificed their lives to preserve India's integrity. Kargil Vijay Diwas serves as a poignant reminder of these sacrifices and India's resilience, symbolizing a pledge to triumph in this unceasing struggle.


 

Here is a chronological account of India's enduring struggle:

 
 

1947: The Pakistani Invasion of Jammu & Kashmir

 
 
• August 1947: At India's independence, Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) delays accession to either India or Pakistan, instead signing a Standstill Agreement with Pakistan to maintain trade and communication. India, specifically Nehru, pressures the Maharaja to hand over J&K to Sheikh Abdullah (then imprisoned) after accession, which the Maharaja resists.
 
 
• September 1947: Pakistani attackers begin targeting Hindu-Sikh majority villages in border areas.
 
 
• September 20, 1947: A secret meeting is held in Rawalpindi, involving Liaquat Ali Khan and senior military officials, to plan "Operation Gulmarg," masterminded by Lieutenant General Akbar Khan (Director of Weapons and Equipment, Pakistani Army), codenamed "General Tariq." Training camps for attackers are established in Lahore, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Mardan, and Kohat. Akbar Khan's report, "Raiders in Kashmir," confirms Pakistani government financial, logistical, and arms support.
 
 
• October 18, 1947: Guru Golwalkar, then RSS Sarsanghchalak, meets Maharaja Hari Singh and convinces him to accede to India.
 
 
• October 22, 1947: Disguised Pakistani armed forces invade J&K via Muzaffarabad, equipped with modern light machine guns, 3-inch mortars, Lee-Enfield rifles, hundreds of trucks and jeeps, and ample ammunition. Maharaja's army is unprepared.
 
 
• October 24-25, 1947: Attackers cover 70 km in 48 hours, capturing Muzaffarabad, Domel, and Uri, reaching Baramulla (1.5 km from Srinagar).
 
 
• October 26, 1947: Maharaja Hari Singh signs the Instrument of Accession with India.
 
 
• October 27, 1947: Indian Army lands in Srinagar by Dakota aircraft and begins pushing back the invaders.
 
 
• Within 15 days: Indian Army liberates Srinagar, Baramulla, and Uri.
 
 
• Late 1947: Local residents resist the Pakistani invaders. In Muzaffarabad, 700 local Hindu-Sikh youths fight back, allowing thousands to escape towards Jammu.
 
 
• November 1947: British intelligence reports confirm the involvement of Pakistan's 7th Infantry Division and 9th Frontier Force Regiment in the attacks. Captured documents in Baramulla reveal Pakistani Army radio messages directing invaders and maps/plans.
 
 
• Mirpur Massacre (November 1947): A horrific genocide occurred in Mirpur on November 24-25, 1947, resulting in the massacre of 20,000 Hindus and Sikhs. Approximately 500 local youth resisted for three days, holding back the invaders for two. Despite heroic efforts by individuals like Raghunath Singh (who saved hundreds of families) and Mahesh Chandra Sharma (who saved 180 families), both sacrificing their lives, 60% of Mirpur's non-Muslim population was affected. Over 3,000 women and children were captured, with 1,200 later murdered. The 17th-century Shri Ram Temple and Gurudwara were completely destroyed. Thousands fled to Jammu, but many were captured and held in camps like the Kirtangarh Gurudwara near Mirpur.
 
 

Ali Beg Camp: A Massacre
 
 

  • Hindu and Sikh civilians who had survived from areas like Mirpur, Bagh, and Palandri were forcibly captured and crammed into the Kirtan Garh Gurdwara near Mirpur (later known as the “Ali Beg Camp”).

  • This gurdwara, instead of being a place of worship, turned into a center of inhumane torture and death for thousands of prisoners.

  • Pakistani raiders and tribal invaders locked men, women, and children in overcrowded conditions without food, water, or medical aid. Due to the harsh winter, suffocating crowding, and complete lack of humanitarian provisions, thousands fell severely ill.

  • According to survivors, prisoners were picked out daily and either brutally killed or tortured. Even children were not spared.

  • Based on various eyewitness accounts, Red Cross reports, and historical documents, over 7,000–8,000 Hindu and Sikh detainees were mercilessly massacred in Ali Beg Camp.

  • The massacre also involved the abduction of women and girls, religious humiliation (including forced cutting of hair, forced conversions), and killings.

  • Months later, when Red Cross representatives finally arrived, only a few thousand sick, injured, and mentally shattered individuals were found alive. Almost all others had either been killed or were untraceable.

  • The Ali Beg Camp incident was the most horrific chapter of the 1947 Mirpur Massacre, sending a clear message that this Pakistan sponsored assault was an act of religious cleansing and a systematic crime against humanity.

  • What happened at Ali Beg Camp stands as one of the most gruesome massacres in history, marked by calculated murder, humiliation, and the peak of inhumanity in the name of religious identity.

 

  • To this day, the incident remains a painful symbol of injustice and suffering for thousands of displaced families from Kashmir.


    Kotli and Bhimber: Thousands of Hindu-Sikhs are massacred. In Bagh, 1,800 Hindus and Sikhs are killed; 15 temples and 3 gurudwaras are destroyed. In Palandri, 1,200 people are killed, and 5,000 displaced. 70% of property is looted in both cities.
    • November 3, 1947: Major Somnath Sharma, with 50 soldiers, confronts 700 invaders in Budgam. He sends a final message: "The enemy is 50 yards from me, but I will fight till the last round." He holds back the enemy until Indian forces arrive, posthumously awarded India's first Param Vir Chakra.
    • February 6, 1948: Brigadier Mohammed Usman repels 1,200 invaders in the Battle of Naushera, killing 500 and wounding 300. He is awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.
    • 1948: Pakistan openly deploys its regular army (over 15,000 soldiers) in the war.
    • January 1, 1948: India alerts the UN Security Council (UNSC) under Article 35 of the UN Charter about Pakistan's aggression in J&K. The UNSC passes several resolutions to stop the war.

    UNCIP’s Mission, Pakistan’s Denial & Admission, and the “Aggressor” Label

    1. UNCIP is Formed and Pakistan Initially Denies Military Presence

    In January 1948, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 47, which created the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) to mediate the Kashmir dispute. The commission visited the subcontinent in mid‑1948 to assess the situation on ground & negotiate a cease‑fire agreement

     

    When UNCIP arrived in Pakistan, Islamabad asserted that its regular army was not deployed in Kashmir, it claimed only tribal irregulars (“tribesmen”) were involved in the conflict

     

    2. UNCIP Observes the Reality: Pakistani Troop Presence

     

    Despite Pakistan’s denial, UNCIP conducted on‑site inspections and gathered intelligence. By August 1948, UNCIP reported to the UN Security Council that the “presence of troops of Pakistan” in Kashmir constituted a “material change” in the situation.

     

    3. Pakistan Admits Deploying Two Infantry Battalions

     

    Following mounting pressure and visibility of troop movements, Pakistan was forced to acknowledge the facts: it reluctantly admitted that at least two infantry battalions of its regular army were operating inside Kashmir—directly contradicting its initial denial

     
     

    4. UNCIP’s Anger and Declaration of Aggression

     

    UNCIP’s members were incensed by Pakistan’s duplicity and non‑cooperation. In the official UNCIP report to the Security Council, the Commission explicitly declared Pakistan as the Aggressor, noting that Pakistan had launched an unjustified armed attack on a sovereign state by using its regular army disguised as tribesmen.


    • 1, 1949: A UN-mediated ceasefire comes into effect. Approximately 35% of J&K remains under Pakistan's illegal occupation.
     
    • Impact: Around 43,000 Hindu-Sikh families are displaced to Jammu or other parts of India, awaiting liberation of their ancestral lands.
     
    • January 1949: Illegally Occupied Territories of J&K by Pakistan

    Total area under illegal Pakistani occupation: 86,268 sq km

     

    1. Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (POJK)

     
    • Approx. 13,297 sq km
    o Includes regions like: Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Bagh, Palandri

    2. Pakistan Occupied Territories of Ladakh (POTL),

    • Approx. 72,971 sq km
    • also referred to as Gilgit-Baltistan, now in Union Territory of Ladakh, India

    1965 Indo-Pakistan War: Pakistan launched "Operation Gibraltar" in August 1965, infiltrating thousands into J&K, followed by attacks in Punjab and Rajasthan. India mounted a strong counteroffensive, capturing 1,800 sq km of Pakistani territory before a UN ceasefire on September 22-23. Casualties were heavy on both sides, with around 3,000 Indians and 3,800 Pakistanis killed.

     
     

    Valor of Indian Army at Patton Tank Battle (Battle of Asal Uttar):

     
     

    During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, the Battle of Asal Uttar (September 8-10) showcased extraordinary valor and strategy by Indian soldiers facing Pakistan's technologically superior M47 and M48 American Patton tanks. Despite India's outdated tank fleet including Sherman, AMX-13, and limited Centurion tanks, Indian troops laid a brilliant trap by flooding the sugarcane fields near Khem Karan, turning the terrain into a swamp. This tactic immobilized many of the heavily armored Pattons, neutralizing their advantage in speed and firepower.

     
     

    Indian forces formed a strong horseshoe-shaped defensecamouflaged within the sugarcane to ambush the trapped Pakistani tanks. The battle became one of the largest tank engagements since World War II, resulting in the destruction or capture of about 97 Pakistani tanks, including 72 Pattons, which led to the area being called "Patton Nagar" (Tank Graveyard).

     
     

    A standout hero was Havildar Abdul Hamid, who displayed remarkable courage by destroying multiple Patton tanks with a recoilless rifle while driving a jeep through the flooded fields. His actions significantly inflicted losses on the Pakistani armored units and earned him the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor.

     
     

    This battle decisively turned the tide in India's favor, showcasing not only Indian soldiers' bravery but also their tactical ingenuity in overcoming a better-equipped enemy.




    • 1971 India-Pakistan War-

     
     
    • The 1971 war led to the creation of Bangladesh after India defeated Pakistan on both eastern and western fronts, with Pakistan launching preemptive air strikes on India on December 3, 1971.
     
     
    • India, supporting the Mukti Bahini guerrillas, swiftly advanced in East Pakistan, capturing Dhaka by December 16, when approximately 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered, marking the largest military surrender since World War II.
     
     
    • The July 1972 Shimla Agreement established bilateral dispute resolution, converting the ceasefire line in J&K into the Line of Control (LoC), but Pakistan repeatedly tried to internationalize the Kashmir issue despite the agreement.
     
     

    1980s-1990s: Pakistan's Proxy War and Islamist Terrorism

     
     
    • Shift in Strategy: After conventional defeats in 1947, 1965, and 1971, Pakistan realizes it cannot defeat India conventionally. In the 1980s, the Pakistani Army and ISI adopt the "Bleed India with a thousand cuts" policy, aiming to destabilize and fragment India through Islamist terrorism and separatism.
     
     
    • Afghan Jihad Connection: "Mujahideen" trained and armed by the US and Pakistan against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan (from 1979) are redirected to Kashmir by Pakistan after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. The ISI uses them for an "Islamic Jihad" against India.
     
     
    • Rise of Terrorist Organizations: Pakistan fosters Islamist fundamentalism within J&K, establishing groups like JKLF, and later Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammad.
     
     
    • 1984-85: Violent incidents against Kashmiri Hindus and India increase. Alleged rigging in the 1987 J&K Assembly elections further fuels anti-India sentiment.
     
     
    • Targeted Killings and Ethnic Cleansing: Cross-border trained terrorists initiate separatism and targeted killings in the valley. Prominent Hindu leaders, intellectuals, and judges like Tika Lal Taploo and Neelkanth Ganjoo are systematically targeted. This marks the beginning of "Religious Cleansing," aimed at expelling Kashmiri Hindus through terror.
     
     
    • September 13, 1989: Tika Lal Taploo, a senior advocate, RSS social worker, and BJP Kashmiri Hindu leader, openly opposing terrorism, is shot dead in broad daylight near his Srinagar home. This first prominent Hindu killing instills widespread fear. Terrorists celebrate, and police take no action.
     
     
    • November 4, 1989: Neelkanth Ganjoo, a former J&K High Court judge who sentenced terrorist Maqbool Bhat (JKLF founder) to death, is shot dead in broad daylight at Hari Singh Street, Srinagar. This attack targets not only Kashmiri Hindus but also India's judiciary, signaling that no one is safe.
     
     
    • 1990: Terrorists continue to target government officials and educators. Girija Tikoo, a lab assistant, is brutally killed. Hindu teachers, engineers, and administrative officers are systematically targeted due to their identity.
     
     
    • October-November 1989: Mosques broadcast announcements: "Raliv, Chaliv, ya Galiv" (Convert, Leave, or Die). Walls are defaced with "Leave Kashmir, or get killed." Women are forced to wear hijabs, and Hindu families are "listed."
     
     
    • January 1990 onwards: Police and administration inaction forces 3-4 lakh Kashmiri Hindus to flee the valley. Hundreds are killed, properties seized, with no arrests or justice for the murders.
     
     
    • Spread of Terrorism: Pakistan-sponsored Islamist terrorism spreads from the valley to Jammu.
     
     
    • 1995: Al-Faran group abducts 6 foreign tourists, attempting to destabilize India internationally. Pakistan's ISI openly provides training, arms, funding, technical, and tactical support to these terrorists.
     
     
    • Terrorist Camps: Training camps in Muzaffarabad, Balakot, and Bahawalpur (POJK) teach guerrilla warfare, IEDs, sniper tactics, and tunnel warfare. The international community largely remains silent, and international media promotes anti-India narratives.
     
     
    • Outcome of Proxy War: This period is considered a partial success for Pakistan. Religious fundamentalism destabilizes Kashmir, and "human rights" narratives on international platforms create multi-pronged pressure on India. However, the Indian Army effectively suppresses terrorism.
     
     

    -In 1992, when Pakistan-backed terrorism was spreading across the Kashmir valley, terrorists also entered the tough and hilly areas of Kishtwar and Doda.

     
     
    • On 15th August 1992, a day meant for celebration, terrorists unleashed an unprecedented onslaught of gun firing and grenade attacks, plunging Bhaderwah into a war-like nightmare. Their brutality was inhuman, exemplified by the gruesome murder of 2 innocent 9th-grade students, their eyes gouged out, their very hearts and livers removed. These were highly motivated, trained, and sophisticatedly armed terrorists.
     
    • Amidst despair, Ruchir Kumar Koul, a young man aflame with nationalist fervour, rose as a beacon of hope. He possessed an unmatched power to weld dispirited people into tough resistors, inspiring them with the belief that even with basic tools; swords, 'kattas', and double-barrelled guns,they coulddefy the terrorists' AK-47s and grenade launchers.
     
    • Ruchir forged a dedicated force of young men, marking the first time that terrorists encountered fierce resistance from ordinary people in every village, every mohalla, across mountain peaks, and deep within ravines and caves.
     
    • The valor of Sartingle village, where nationalist residents retaliated against overwhelming attacks, inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists even as their homes burned, stands as a testament to this spirit. At that time, no army or security forces were present; only ill-equipped local police struggled to defend themselves.
     
    • Ruchir Kumar Koul became a prime target for the Pakistan-backed terrorists. To awaken the central and state governments from their deep slumber, he ignited a 41-day mass agitation, bringing life to a standstill with continuous strikes. Though numerous assassination attempts failed, on 7th June 1994, Ruchir Kumar Koul achieved martyrdom, felled by terrorists as he worked in his field beside his wife.
     
    • Born on 4th July 1958, Ruchir's life, though tragically short, was a "saga of renunciation, patriotism and complete surrender before Bharat Mata".
     
    • He lives on in the hearts of patriotic people and in local folklore, a testament to how the ill-equipped and disorganised can be forged into an invincible force. He is revered as the "tallest of all martyrs amongst people struggling for defeating terrorism," having single-handedly turned the tide against terrorists across the entire erstwhile Doda District.
     
    • His valiant efforts laid the very groundwork for initiatives like the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), which armed and organised locals for self-defence, preventing the spread of terrorism beyond the Kashmir Valley into the Jammu region.
     

    1995: Village Defence Committees (VDC) – Civilian Resistance to Terrorism

     
    • By 1995, as terrorist infiltration increases in Doda, Kishtwar, and Bhaderwah (hilly areas of Jammu), it becomes clear that the army and police cannot protect every village. VDCs are formed.
     
     
    • Local youths and citizens are organized, armed, and trained for self-defense. Each VDC comprises 10-15 trustworthy, brave, and patriotic villagers. They are provided with .303 rifles, ammunition, and basic military training.
     
     
    • VDCs maintain contact with local police and army units for information sharing and coordinated response. Their local knowledge of geography, jungles, and people helps identify terrorist activities quickly.
     
     
    • VDC members patrol villages in Doda, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Poonch, and Rajouri, setting up posts in hilly areas and reporting suspicious activity. They engage terrorists in encounters, suffering casualties but also eliminating terrorists.
     
     
    • VDCs thwart numerous terrorist attacks in Doda district (1998-2002). For example, a quick VDC response forces terrorists trying to blow up a temple near Bhaderwah to flee. Women also join VDCs and learn to use weapons. This revolutionary step prevents terrorism from expanding beyond the valley into the mountainous regions of Jammu division.



    • 1999: Kargil War – Pervez Musharraf's Conspiracy, India's Response

     
     
    • After nuclear tests by both India and Pakistan in 1998, diplomatic talks resume. In February 1999, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee visits Lahore, raising hopes for improved India-Pakistan relations. However, Pakistani Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf betrays the Lahore Agreement, plotting the Kargil conspiracy.
     
     
    • Pakistani soldiers, disguised as local mujahideen, secretly cross the LoC and occupy Indian posts in Dras, Batalik, Tololing, and Tiger Hill.
     
     
    • Pakistan aims to cut off India's 'Leh-Kargil-Siachen' supply line, strategically forcing India into a weak position by occupying high-altitude areas near Siachen. This is planned during winter when most Indian forward posts are vacated. Pakistan also seeks to re-internationalize the Kashmir issue as a "flashpoint."
     
     
    • Discovery and "Operation Vijay": In May 1999, reports from shepherds and reconnaissance flights reveal the infiltration. India immediately launches "Operation Vijay." Fierce fighting ensues at 13,000-18,000 feet.
     
     
    • "Operation Safed Sagar": The IAF launches its first high-altitude operation, "Operation Safed Sagar," which is highly successful and later included in global high-altitude warfare syllabi.
     
     
    • Heroic Acts: Heroes like Captain Vikram Batra, Captain Anuj Nayyar, Lieutenant Nivedeep Singh, and Grenadier Yogendra Yadav make ultimate sacrifices, liberating crucial peaks like Tiger Hill, Tololing, Point 5140, and Point 4875. Despite limited resources and tough conditions, they force the enemy to retreat.
     
     
    • India uses evidence to expose Pakistan's military infiltration across the LoC, proving it was not local mujahideen. India gains widespread international support (UN, USA, G8). The US orders Pakistan to withdraw across the LoC, and Clinton reprimands Nawaz Sharif in Washington.
     
     
    • India identifies and rectifies strategic and military shortcomings, strengthening LoC surveillance. The Kargil Review Committee is formed, acknowledging intelligence failures (R&AW, MI, IB) and implementing reforms. Better coordination among Army, Air Force, and intelligence agencies is recognized as crucial. Year-round troop deployment in Siachen and Kargil sectors is ensured.
     
     
    •The war demonstrates that conventional conflict is possible even between nuclear powers and that Pakistan will never abandon its conspiracies. India must always be prepared at all levels to teach Pakistan a lesson.
     
     

    2000-2015: Era of Terrorist Attacks and Massacres

     
     

    After the Kargil defeat, Pakistan realizes it cannot win conventional wars and focuses on infiltration and proxy warfare after 2000. Terrorist attacks are no longer confined to J&K but spread nationwide.

     
     
    • Massacre of Sikhs: Chattisinghpora (2000): On March 20, 2000, in the small village of Chattisinghpora in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, 36 Sikh men and boys were brutally killed by terrorists. The attackers, dressed in Indian Army uniforms, entered the village during the evening and gathered the Sikh men at a local gurudwara under the pretext of a routine check. They then opened fire on the unarmed villagers, killing them on the spot.
     
     

    This was the first major attack on the Sikh community in Kashmir since the Paki sponsored Islamic terrorism began in 1989. The massacre occurred just days before U.S. President Bill Clinton’s official visit to India, raising international attention on Kashmir. The Chattisinghporamassacre remains one of the darkest and most controversial chapters in the history of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

     
     
    • Kaluchak (2002): Three terrorists stop a bus near an army cantonment in Jammu, targeting army families, children, and women. They kill 31 innocents, including 10 children, in cold blood.
     
     
    • Doda-Udhampur Massacres (2006): On Ram Navami night, terrorists target Hindu families in villages, brutally killing elders, women, and children inside their homes. Over 35 villagers are killed in Doda and Udhampur.
     
     

    Targeted Attacks on Security Forces and Institutions

     
     

    Parliament Attack (2001): Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists attacked India’s Parliament in Delhi, aiming to cause mass casualties and chaos. Nine security personnel were martyred, but the terrorists were prevented from entering the building.

     
     

    J&K Assembly Attack (2001): A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the Assembly complex, followed by gunfire. Thirty-eight people were killed in this attempt to disrupt democratic institutions.

     
     

    Udhampur and Gurdaspur Attacks (2015): Pakistani terrorists targeted BSF vehicles and police stations in border areas. In Gurdaspur, a police station was under siege for several hours, showing that the threat had spread beyond Jammu and Kashmir.

     
     


    Urban Serial Bombings

     
     

    Mumbai (2003): Twin blasts at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar killed 52 people, striking the heart of India’s financial capital.

     
     

    Delhi (2005): Just 2 days before Diwali, bombings in Sarojini Nagar, Paharganj, and Govindpuri killed 62 people during the festive shopping rush.

     
     

    Mumbai Local Train Blasts (2006): 7 coordinated bomb blasts on July 11 killed 209 people and injured over 700, targeting Mumbai’s suburban railway system.

     
     

    Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi (2008): Serial bombings across these three cities killed more than 150 people. Indian Mujahideen, with links to Pakistan, claimed responsibility.

     
     

    Communal and Pilgrim Attacks

     
     

    Pahalgam (2000): 21 Hindu pilgrims were killed in a targeted attack.

    Srinagar and Anantnag (2001–2002): More than 35 pilgrims were killed during the Amarnath Yatra in separate attacks.

     
     

    Anantnag (2017): 8 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were killed and 18 injured when their bus was attacked by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.

     
     

    Raghunath Mandir Attacks (2002): The temple was attacked twice in the same year, resulting in the deaths of over 25 pilgrims. Religious sites were deliberately targeted to incite fear and division.

     
     
    • Border and LoC Infiltration (2000-2015): Continuous infiltration leads to hundreds of encounters, martyring dozens of Indian soldiers and killing hundreds of terrorists. Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Kupwara are major infiltration routes and terrorist strongholds.
     
     
    • 35+ major terror attacks, 1000+ civilian deaths, 400+ security personnel martyred, 1000+ terrorists killed, 8+ attacks on religious sites/pilgrims. Pakistan's proxy war extends to markets, religious sites, trains, and Parliament. Despite this, India grows stronger, with security forces' resistance, citizen unity, and democratic roots deepening.
     
     

    2015-2019: New Era of Hybrid Terrorism

     
     
    • Shift in Strategy: After failing with traditional infiltration and large-scale military attacks, Pakistan adopts hybrid warfare, using social media as a new weapon. Kashmiri youths are radicalized online and drawn to Jihad. Local "poster boys" like Burhan Wani emerge.
     
     
    • Rise of Local Terrorists: After 2015, local terrorist recruitment rapidly increases in South Kashmir (Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag). Stone-pelting and "Mob Shielding" tactics are employed to help terrorists escape during security operations. CCTV/Jio Tower blasts are used against counter-terror infrastructure and digital surveillance.
     
     
    • Destabilization Efforts: Radical ideologies are used to create social and political instability in Kashmir. Social media, NGOs, and national/international media legitimize terrorism and stone-pelting as "freedom struggles," creating moral support.
     
     
    • Terrorist Tactics: Terrorists hide in local villages, intimidating civilians with bombings, shootings, and roadblocks. WhatsApp, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter are used to spread fake news, hate messages, and communal frenzy. Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen adopt this model, giving local commanders free rein. This becomes a major challenge for Indian security forces.
     
     
    • Counter-Terrorism: Terrorist elimination continues. Burhan Wani, a prominent Hizbul Mujahideen poster boy and influential social media figure, is killed in an encounter in Shopian in July 2016, sparking widespread protests and riots in Kashmir.
     
     
    • Key Eliminations: Shahidullah Shah, Hizbul Mujahideen commander in South Kashmir and key recruiter, is killed in a Pulwama encounter in 2017. Jamal Bhatt, Jaish-e-Mohammad commander in Pulwama, is killed in 2018. Dozens of terrorist commanders are eliminated.
     
     
    • February 14, 2019: Pulwama Attack: Pakistani-trained terrorist Adil Dar, with others' help, attacks a CRPF convoy, martyring over 40 jawans. This attack prompts India to take decisive action against terrorism, launching "Operation All Out" in J&K.
     
     
    • Operation All Out: Army, police, and central agencies jointly target active terrorists, their supporters, and networks. Over 500 active terrorists are killed, many arrested, and networks dismantled within 3-4 months.
     
     
    • Dismantling Support Networks: Separatist leaders and suspects (including Hurriyat members) are arrested to cut off financial and logistical support for terrorists, weakening separatist politics. Security agencies crack down on cross-border funding, arms supply, and propaganda. Marwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi, Shabbir Shah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani are imprisoned, acted against, or placed under house arrest.
     
     
    • Banning Jamaat-e-Islami (J&K): A major organization supporting the ground terror network is banned, its leaders imprisoned, and funding network targeted, breaking the back of Pakistan-sponsored terror.
     
     
    • August 5, 2019: Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A:These constitutional provisions are abolished, ending the spiritual power of terror and separatism. This is a major blow to Pakistan, who cries foul globally but receives no support. Pakistan realizes India's diplomatic and political strength, marking a new dawn for J&K.


     
     

    Pahalgam Attack and Operation Sindoor

     
     
     
     
    • Post-Article 370 Abrogation: J&K experiences unprecedented improvements in development, tourism, and normal life. Tourism flourishes, with over 1.5 crore tourists visiting in the first six months of 2024. Kashmiri youth excel in startups, sports, education, and tourism. International media reports focus on the changing, progressing Kashmir and G20 meetings. On August 15, more flags are hoisted than in any other Indian state.
     
     
    • Pakistan's Desperation: These positive developments disturb Pakistan and its terrorist proxies, leading to an attack on tourists in Pahalgam. Innocents are killed after asking their religion. This is the first such attack on tourists, Kashmir's economic lifeline, indicating Pakistan's desperation. Jaish-e-Mohammad and TRF (The Resistance Front), controlled by the ISI, are implicated.
     
     
    • Operation Sindoor: India responds immediately and decisively with "Operation Sindoor," a strategic doctrine shift towards "Active Denial and Pre-emption."
     
     
    • Targeted Strikes: 9 terrorist hideouts in Pakistan's internal cities and POJK are targeted with intelligence-driven precision strikes. Several terrorist modules within Pakistan are eliminated.
     
     
    • New Doctrine: India's aggressive policy is based on striking terrorist hideouts before attacks occur, signalingto terrorists and their handlers that they are no longer safe, anywhere. Strikes will be decisive and will hit deep.
     
     
    • Impact: The scale and audacity of "Operation Sindoor" – India striking inside a nuclear power – surprises everyone. Pakistan attempts a drone attack in retaliation but fails due to India's self-reliant defense systems, further humiliating Pakistan.
     
     
    • Escalation and Pakistan's Plea: India then simultaneously attacks at least 11 Pakistani airbases with missiles, drones, and rockets, achieving complete stealth from Pakistan's defense radar systems. This compels Pakistan to desperately appeal to the US to halt India's retaliatory strikes.
     
     

    Operation Vijay vs Operation Sindoor

    From Strategic Restraint to Strategic Dominance

    Recalling Operation Vijay (1999): A doctrinal snapshot

    Operation Vijay, launched in May 1999, was India’s tactical and strategic response to

    Pakistan’s intrusion in the Kargil-Dras sector. It was:

    • Reactive, triggered only after enemy occupation.

    • Fought under international scrutiny, with India consciously choosing not to cross the LoC.

    • Executed with heroic ground-level courage but limited high-tech support (satellite intel was minimal; UAVs were rare).

    Key characteristics:

    • Doctrine: “Holding Ground” + “Limited Counterattack”

    • Posture: Defensive, Border-Centric

    • Objective: Restore status quo

    • Constraints: Avoid escalation due to nuclear overhang

    Despite these constraints, Operation Vijay restored all occupied positions, but did not impose long-term deterrence on Pakistan. Within a year, Pakistan returned to asymmetric warfare.


    Strategic gaps post Ops Vijay: Why India needed a doctrinal reset

    After Kargil, India realized:

    • Conventional superiority was not enough.

    • A reactive posture meant India always absorbed the first blow.

    • Pakistan's nuclear cover emboldened it to launch low-cost hybrid wars.

    This led to:

    • Early drafts of Cold Start Doctrine (2004 onwards).

    • Emphasis on swift, localized, conventional retaliation under a nuclear threshold.

    • But until 2016, the doctrine remained undeclared and unused.

    India’s deterrence credibility was still questioned until a series of assertive actions reset the narrative.

    Enter Operation Sindoor (2025): A New Era of Dominance Doctrine

    Operation Sindoor, conducted on 7 May 2025, represents a pivotal strategic shift in India's military history and its approach to managing cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. This operation marked a definitive departure from India's traditionally reactive stance to a proactive and dominant posture, signaling that it would impose tangible and escalating costs for the pursuit of terrorism as a state policy.


    Trigger and Immediate Response

    Operation Sindoor was launched in direct retaliation to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on 22 April 2025, which tragically killed 26 civilians, targeted on religious grounds. This attack was incited by a provocative speech from Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, seen as a direct incitement to terrorists. India's response was swift and decisive, involving precise missile strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and POJK. For the first time, this included targeting the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) at Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) at Bahawalpur, deep within Pakistan's mainland. This operation was the culmination of weeks of meticulous planning and detailed intelligence gathering.