OPERATION SINDOOR (8-11 May 2025)

On 7 May 2025, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India had been planned and directed. Altogether, nine sites were targeted. “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities were targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution. These steps come in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered. We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable”, stated the official statement from MoD.

Courtesy: PTI

“Through Operation Sindoor, India has used its ‘Right to Respond’ to the attack on its soil, and the Armed Forces scripted history by acting with precision, precaution and compassion to destroy the camps used to train terrorists in Pakistan and PoK,” stated Raksha Mantri Mr. Rajnath Singh while addressing the Nation. Raksha Mantri asserted that, as per the plan, the targets were destroyed and no civilian population was harmed. He commended the Armed Forces by giving a befitting reply under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.

“The whole world has witnessed what our Armed Forces have done today. The action was carried out very thoughtfully and in a measured manner. It was limited only to the camps and other infrastructure used for training terrorists, with the aim of breaking their morale. I congratulate the Armed Forces on behalf of the whole country. I also congratulate Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi for providing complete support to the Forces,” added Mr. Rajnath Singh.

Satellite pics from Maxar Technologies show damage caused by Indian missile strikes on the city of Muridke, Pakistan, before (left) and after (right) the strike. (Source: Reuters)

8^th May

Pakistan's bid to escalate negated; proportionate response by India

On the night of 7–8 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to strike multiple military targets across Northern and Western India—including Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj—using drones and missiles. These threats were neutralised by India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. Debris from these attacks was recovered from several locations, providing concrete evidence of the Pakistani offensive.

“This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted air defence radars and systems at multiple locations in Pakistan. The Indian response remained within the same operational domain and of equivalent intensity. It has been reliably confirmed that an air defence system in Lahore was neutralised”, stated MoD.

Air traffic situation on 7-9 May 2025. Airlines completely avoiding Pakistan.

India issues a NOTAM extending the suspension of multiple flight routes along the western border with Pakistan, halts civil aviation across 32 airports as well. Courtesy: Damien Symon (X: @detresfa_)

On 8 May, MoD stated: “Pakistan has intensified its unprovoked ceasefire violations across the Line of Control, using mortars and heavy calibre artillery in areas including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. Tragically, sixteen innocent civilians—including three women and five children—have lost their lives due to Pakistani shelling. Consequently, India was compelled to respond in order to suppress and neutralise Pakistani mortar and artillery fire. The Indian Armed Forces reaffirm their commitment to non-escalation—provided this principle is respected by the Pakistani military”.

The 8th night and early 9th morning saw intense drone activity along India's northern and western borders, after Pakistan launched a coordinated wave of drone attacks targeting military infrastructure across 26 locations, ranging from Leh in the north to Sir Creek in the south. Several of the targeted sites included key airfields, forward military bases, and civil aviation facilities. India successfully repelled each attack.

Multiple explosions were heard over Srinagar the same morning, around 6 am. Simultaneously there were reports of at least three explosions at three Pakistani air bases.

9 and 10 May

“Operation Sindoor was successfully executed because our formidable and professionally trained Armed Forces were equipped with high-quality equipment,” stated Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh while addressing the National Quality Conclave in New Delhi on 8 May 2025. Raksha Mantri commended the precision with which the Armed Forces executed the operation without harming any innocent person and with minimum collateral damage, terming it as unimaginable and a matter of great pride for the nation.

India and Pakistan issue multiple notifications for simultaneous naval firing exercises across various zones in the Arabian Sea. Courtesy: Damien Symon (X: @detresfa_)

“In Operation Sindoor, nine terror camps were destroyed in Pakistan and PoK, and a good number of terrorists were killed. It shows the crucial role ‘quality’ plays in securing national interests,” said Mr. Rajnath Singh. He asserted that India had always played the role of a responsible nation exercising great restraint and it believed in resolving issues through dialogue, however, if anyone tried to take advantage of this restraint, they would will face ‘quality action’. He assured the nation that no limit would become an obstacle for the Government in protecting India’s sovereignty. “We are fully prepared for such responsible responses in the future as well,” he further said.

Mr. Rajnath Singh stated that fast tracking quality assessment was the need of the hour in view of the disruptive changes and new transformations being witnessed in the defence sector across the globe.

Headlines from 10 May.

Raksha Mantri voiced the Government’s emphasis on the empowerment of the defence production sector since 2014, based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s philosophy of Defence Sovereignty. He said: “Defence Sovereignty means that until a country is capable and self-reliant in its defence needs, its independence cannot be considered complete. If we buy weapons and other defence equipment from abroad, we are outsourcing our security and leaving it at the mercy of someone else. Our government thought over it seriously and took a decisive step to achieve self-reliance. The expanding defence industrial ecosystem is providing an unprecedented strength to India”.

Meanwhile, India's air defence systems on 9 and 10 May destroyed several hostile drones spotted over Amritsar's Khasa Cantt and said that Pakistan's "blatant attempt to violate India's sovereignty and endanger civilians was unacceptable", the Army said.

In a press conference on 10 May morning, the central government ‘completely rejected’ Pakistan's “false” claims of having destroyed India's S-400 system and damaged airbases in Sirsa and Surat. At the press briefing on Operation Sindoor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said it was Pakistani actions that had constituted "provocations and escalations". Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said that India neutralised many dangers and Pakistan's attempt to infiltrate the country at more than 26 places. She said that Pakistani troops were repeatedly attacking western borders, and were using drones, long range weapons and fighter jets to attack India's military sites.

Additionally, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said that Pakistani army had been observed to  moving its troops towards forward areas, "indicating an offensive intent to further escalation". "Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness, and all hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded proportionately," she added.

In the early hours of the same day, multiple explosions were heard in several Indian cities, including Jammu, Srinagar and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan shelling in Rajouri resulted in the demise of the region's additional district development commissioner Raj Kumar Thapa. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah later visited the affected the civilian areas in Jammu, as well as Thapa's residence. 

The ministry of civil aviation also announced that 32 airports would be closed till 5:29 am on 15 May for all civil flight operations. The Airports Authority of India also extended the temporary closure of 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions (FIRs) due to operational reasons.

Earlier on 9 May, the Indian armed forces once again tackled Pakistan's fresh wave of drone attacks targeted at dozens of locations ranging from North's Baramulla to South's Bhuj. The Indian Army said that the forces were maintaining a high state of alert, adding that all such aerial threats were being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir earlier on 10 May and urged both countries to de-escalate the situation. He also offered the US' assistance in opening “constructive talks” to avoid future conflicts. 

Engagement activity 9-10 May). Courtesy: Damien Symon (X: @detresfa_)

As the morning on 10 May progressed: Addressing a government briefing with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said Pakistan continued to provoke India through aggressive actions along India's western border. Pakistan used unmanned combat aerial vehicles, long range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter jets to target civilian areas and military infrastructure, she said. "Indian armed forces successfully neutralised these threats and majority of the vectors. However, limited damage was sustained to equipment and personnel at Indian air force stations at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj," the officer added.

"In a swift and calibrated response, Indian Air Force carried out precision attacks only on identified military targets. These included technical infrastructure, command and control centres, radar sites and weapon storage areas. Pakistan military targets at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunia were engaged using air-launched precision weapons from our fighter aircraft. Radar site at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base were also targeted using precision munitions. While carrying out these responses, India ensured minimum collateral damage," Wing Commander Singh said.

Engagement activity 9-10 May). Courtesy: Damien Symon (X: @detresfa_)

Flagging Pakistan's malicious misinformation campaign, the Air Force officer mentioned claims such as the destruction of India's S-400 air defence system at Adampur, airfields at Suratgarh and Sirsa, Brahmos base at Nagrota and the forward ammunition depot at Chandigarh. "India unequivocally rejects these false narratives being spread by Pakistan," she said. The officer said Pakistan had been carrying out heavy shelling along the Line of Control and targeting civilian areas. Indian Army, she said, has responded "effectively and proportionately". Wing Commander Singh also showed time-stamp images of military facilities that fly in the face of Pakistan's claims of having targeted these air force bases.

On 9 May, the Indian Army destroyed multiple terrorist launchpads located near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The targeted strikes came in response to a wave of drone attacks and cross-border escalations initiated by Pakistan in the recent days. The Army shared video footage of the precision strikes conducted. The targeted sites had long been under surveillance for their role in enabling infiltration and planning terror attacks against civilians and security forces in India. "The Indian Army's swift and decisive action has dealt a significant blow to terrorist infrastructure and capabilities," the Army said in a statement. 

The military response followed a series of attempted drone strikes by Pakistan across cities in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The drones, identified as Turkish-origin kamikaze drones, were launched with high explosive payloads aimed at inflicting civilian casualties in densely populated urban zones, including Amritsar. India's integrated Air Defence (AAD) grid neutralised the drones mid-air within seconds of crossing into Indian airspace. 

MoD on 10 May said the Pakistani officials were making “lame attempts” to “divide India” by claiming that Indian missiles were being fired at Shri Amritsar Sahib. Addressing a press conference after Pakistan launched multiple attacks again, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistani officials were continuing to make “ludicrous” claims about India firing missiles towards religious sites. "Pakistani officials continue to make ludicrous claims about India firing missiles towards Shri Amritsar Sahib. As I said, these lame attempts to divide India are doomed to failure”. He also said it was a "totally frivolous allegation" that Indian missiles have hit Afghanistan.

"I only want to point out that Afghan people don't need to be reminded about which country it is that has on multiple occasions in just the last one and a half years targeted civilian populations and civilian infrastructure in Afghanistan," he said during the press conference alongside Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

How India chose which Pak airbases to strike

Fighter jets of the India Air Force targeted Pakistan Air Force's bases at Rafiqui, Murid and Chaklala early on 10 May morning to counter Pakistan's reckless drone and missile attacks targeting civilian areas and military infrastructure in India's western sector. In a government briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said India's precision attacks only targeted military targets. "Pakistan military targets at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian were engaged using air-launched precision weapons from our fighter aircraft. Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base were also targeted using precision munitions. While carrying out these responses, India ensured minimum collateral damage," she said.

India chose targets carefully. The objective was to cripple Pakistan's capability to launch aerial attacks using drones and fighter jets. The attack on these key air force centres has likely hit Pakistan's air reconnaissance and long-range strike capabilities.

Pakistan Air Force Base, Nur Khan: The Nur Khan air base, earlier known as PAF base, Chaklala, is located at Rawalpindi. This airbase is the nerve centre of Pakistan's aerial mobility and serves as the headquarters of its Air Mobility Command. According to officials in the Indian Air Force, the Nur Khan airbase played a key role in coordinating the cross-border drone and missile attacks by Pakistan in the previous 72 hours. This airbase houses a Saab 2000 airborne early warning and control aircraft that is believed to have played a key role in Pakistan's aerial attacks on Indian cities.

Pakistan Air Force Base, Rafiqui: The Pakistan Air Force base at Rafiqui is in Punjab province. It is home to advanced fighter squadrons of Mirage and JF-17 aircraft and is a training centre for missions in Punjab and Kashmir. “The past few days have been frenetic air activity involving fighter jets of the two countries and the Rafiqui airbase is likely to have played a key role in Pakistan's aerial attacks on India”, said officials. Targeting this airbase was aimed at disrupting Pakistan's attack capabilities. Rafiqui, like Murid and Chaklala, was targeted with air-launched precision weapons.

Pakistan Air Force Base, Murid: The Murid airbase, located in Pakistan's Punjab, is the headquarters of Pakistan's drone operations. This airbase houses Pakistan's homemade drone Shahpar-I, and the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci. Over the days, Pakistan had sent hundreds of drones across the border. Many of these were unarmed, ostensibly sent for intelligence gathering and to identify Indian positions. Some of them were, however, armed. Most of these drones were taken down by the Indian air defence system.

13 Updates on Op Sindoor (as of 3:30pm, 10 May 2025)

1.      India’s Prime Minister holds high-level meet with Union Defence Minister, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Chiefs of all three Services.

2. A 2nd MoD briefing expected today for an update.

3. India confirms air strikes on PAF bases Nur Khan, Rahamiyar Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sialkot with precision weapons.

@detresfa_ image of Indian missile hit and runway damage at Pakistan’s airbase, PAF Mushaf.

4. India also confirms air strikes on PAF base Sukkur and radar sites at Pasrur & Sialkot.

5. Intense air activity around Srinagar, multiple raid attempts by PAF jets- major skirmishes going on currently.

6. Between 2-3 PAF jets shot down in the same sector- according to some reports.

7. Heavy air activity over/around Pokhran, Jodhpur, Jammu, Samba, Pathankot and Amritsar going on right now.

8. Multiple attempts of Pak sending drones (throughout the past 2 days) across border thwarted all along the IB.

9. Indian Army releases footage of destruction of Pakistan Army and terrorist launchpads along the LoC. Video shows mortars, artillery, RPGs, ATGMs, etc being used.

10. Multiple Pak Army posts the border destroyed by the Army and BSF.

11. “Pakistan forward deploying troops—not clear if MBT/APCs etc being moved”.

12. Fake reports of S-400 systems being destroyed or Indian pilots being captured.

13. Temporary suspension of Civil Flight Operations at select Airports and Air Routes.

10 May (late evening): Surprise ceasefire

After four days of precision missile strikes, drone incursions and artillery battles across the Line of Control (LoC), India and Pakistan agreed to halt all military actions on land, air and sea, with effect from the evening of May 10. Hours later, Pakistani drones were sighted and intercepted in various locations in Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar, and parts of Gujarat.

India said Pakistan had violated the ceasefire, adding that the armed forces were giving an "adequate and appropriate response". Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a press briefing, stressed that India took "very, very serious notice of these violations." 

11 May

Sixteen hours after his surprise announcement about a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, US President Donald Trump offered to work with the two neighbours to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. It must be pointed out that New Delhi has always stressed that Kashmir is an integral part of India and opposed third-party mediation. An Indian government response to the Trump offer is awaited.

"I am very proud of the strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much. Millions of good and innocent people could have died! Your legacy is greatly enhanced by your brave actions," the US President posted on Truth Social, a social media platform he owns.

Soon after, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and US Vice President had been talking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Pakistan's Army chief Asim Munir and National Security Advisors of the two countries Ajit Doval and Asim Malik. "I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site," he said.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the ceasefire. He said India's Director General of Military Operations received a call from his Pakistan counterpart 10 May afternoon. "It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, and in the air and sea, with effect from 1700 hours IST," he said. "Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding. The DGMOs will talk again on 12 May at 1200 hours," he added.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar stated, "India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so." Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet to speak on the development. Significantly, none of the official responses from the Indian leadership highlighted the US role or detailed the terms based on which the ceasefire was agreed upon.

From the Pakistan side, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan and India had agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. "Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked US President Trump for his ‘leadership and proactive role for peace’. "Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability. We also thank Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their valuable contributions for peace in South Asia. Pakistan believes this marks a new beginning in the resolution of issues that have plagued the region and prevented its journey toward peace, prosperity and stability," he stated. 

Later, representatives of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force addressed a briefing and said that while they would adhere to the ceasefire, they remained "fully prepared and ever-vigilant and committed to defending the sovereignty and integrity of the motherland. Every misadventure by Pakistan had been met with strength and every future escalation will invite a decisive response," they further said.

According to NDTV, these developments followed a sequence of escalating military exchanges. But what exactly unfolded?

Here's a timeline:

1. According to government sources, at dawn on 10 May, Indian Air Force aircraft launched BrahMos-A (air-launched) cruise missiles targeting key Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases. The first confirmed impacts were at Chaklala near Rawalpindi and Sargodha in Punjab province. Both installations hold strategic aviation and logistics value for the Pakistan military. Confirmation of strikes on additional bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) - Jacobabad, Bholari and Skardu - came only later in the evening after agencies concluded damage assessments through human and open source intelligence.
2. Shortly after the strikes, Indian intelligence agencies detected high alert messages flashing across Pakistani defence networks indicating a belief that India might next target Pakistan's nuclear command and control infrastructure. Strategic installations in Rawalpindi, including offices linked to Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division, reportedly heightened security protocols.
3. It was at this juncture that Pakistan reached out to the United States for urgent intervention. According to government sources, US officials had already been in contact with both sides in anticipation of escalating tensions. But the alert around strategic assets led Washington to step in more decisively.
4. The US, while maintaining a neutral posture in public, is understood to have conveyed a firm message to Islamabad: use the official military hotline and de-escalate without further delay. The US "practically ordered" the Pakistani side to activate its direct line to the Indian Army and avoid any delay.
5. By the afternoon of 10 May, after several of Pakistan's more aggressive tactical postures had been repelled by India, Major General Kashif Abdullah, Pakistan's DGMO, placed a direct call to his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai. The timing of the call, 1535 hrs IST, was later confirmed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at a press briefing.
6. India continued to stand by its position of not engaging in any formal diplomatic or military negotiation with Pakistan outside of protocol. This meant that despite international pressure, New Delhi did not engage in mediation and instead signalled that the Indian armed forces were prepared for the next phase of escalation, which would have reportedly involved coordinated strikes on energy and economic targets, as well as deeper strategic command structures, government sources said.
7. India confirmed that its decisions taken after the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack - including the temporary suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) - would remain unaffected by the ceasefire.

Information collected and collated courtesy: The Vayu Team. Additionally, special thanks to PIB/MoD, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som from NDTV, Snehesh Alex Philip, The Times of India, Indian Express, Hindustan Times and Damien Symon.