Why India Named Its Airstrikes ‘Operation Sindoor’; PM Modi Personally Approved Codename
India’s retaliatory airstrikes on terror bases in Pakistan and PoK were named ‘Operation Sindoor’, symbolically honouring the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and reflecting emotional resolve.
India’s counterterrorism response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, where 26 civilians were killed, has been named ‘Operation Sindoor’—a title personally approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian Armed Forces struck nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in a pre-dawn operation on Wednesday.
The name “Sindoor,” or vermillion, is deeply embedded in Indian tradition, signifying the marital status of Hindu women. It also carries warrior symbolism, often worn on foreheads as a tilak before battle. The codename evokes the tragic image of newlywed Himanshi Narwal, who was seen mourning her husband Vinay Narwal, a naval officer killed during their honeymoon in Pahalgam.
“The codename was chosen to honour the victims and give a face to the lives lost in the terror attack,” a government source said, confirming that PM Modi approved the operation’s name.
According to the Ministry of Defence, Operation Sindoor was a “precise and calibrated” strike targeting terrorist infrastructure associated with Pakistan-based terror groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Crucially, Indian officials stressed that no Pakistani military or civilian facilities were targeted.
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature,” the defence ministry said. “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”
Key targets included Jaish-linked facilities in Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. Intelligence reports had indicated these sites were being used to plan and coordinate attacks against India, including the deadly Pahalgam strike.
Operation Sindoor’s name is a direct reference to the human cost of the Pahalgam attack. One of the most harrowing images following the massacre was of Himanshi Narwal beside her husband’s body. Married less than a week, her grief became symbolic of the brutality of terrorism and the need for justice.
“This is not just a military response. It’s a national message that India stands with the victims and will hold perpetrators accountable,” said a senior defence analyst.
The choice of “Sindoor” reinforces the emotional and cultural impact of the tragedy, ensuring that the loss is neither forgotten nor depersonalised.
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam marked another chapter in Pakistan-backed terrorism targeting civilians. With mounting evidence of cross-border planning, Indian leadership vowed a response. Operation Sindoor follows earlier strikes—such as the 2016 surgical strike and the 2019 Balakot airstrike—in continuing India’s policy of retaliatory precision operations.
Pakistan has responded aggressively, with its leadership calling the operation an “act of war” and initiating missile tests. India, however, has emphasized its commitment to measured, non-provocative responses while staying combat-ready.
India’s diplomatic channels have been activated to shape the global narrative and highlight that the strikes were directed solely at terror infrastructure. Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have reiterated that the world must show “zero tolerance” for terrorism.
The Indian Armed Forces remain on high alert, and a nationwide civil defence drill is reportedly being planned—India’s first since the 1971 war with Pakistan.
