The escalating conflict between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor mirrors the classic game of chicken—a test of nerve where victory belongs not just to the stronger player, but to the one whose resolve is unshakable. India’s decisive strikes on terror camps deep inside Pakistani territory were not merely a military operation but a bold assertion of national will, backed by the unwavering confidence of 1.4 billion citizens who have long demanded an end to Pakistan’s proxy war.
The days since have seen a cascade of events: Pakistan’s desperate drone and missile attacks on May 8-9, met with India’s impregnable air defences; global powers scrambling to respond, with the US distancing itself and China hedging its bets; and Pakistan’s own public turning increasingly skeptical of its military’s costly adventurism. At the heart of this crisis lies a fundamental truth—India’s strength stems not just from its weapons, but from the unity and determination of its people, who refuse to yield to terror.
Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes on May 8-9 were a predictable yet feeble attempt to salvage its bruised ego. The attacks—a haphazard mix of drone swarms and artillery barrages—were doomed from the start, reflecting Islamabad’s strategic bankruptcy. India’s Integrated Air Defence System, featuring the S-400 and indigenous radars, intercepted multiple threats with chilling efficiency, rendering Pakistan’s escalation futile. The failure of these attacks exposes a deeper malaise: Pakistan’s military, trapped in its own rhetoric of confrontation, lacks the capability to challenge India’s dominance. Its reliance on asymmetric warfare has been neutered by India’s technological edge, while its conventional forces dare not risk a full-scale conflict. The message is clear—Pakistan can hurl its toys, but India holds the shield and the sword.
India’s Integrated Air Defence System, featuring the S-400 and indigenous radars, intercepted multiple threats with chilling efficiency, rendering Pakistan’s escalation futile. The failure of these attacks exposes a deeper malaise: Pakistan’s military, trapped in its own rhetoric of confrontation, lacks the capability to challenge India’s dominance
The battle of narratives has been equally lopsided. While Pakistan peddled fake videos of explosions and exaggerated claims of downing Indian jets, India’s information warfare machinery—led by the PIB Fact Check Unit and a vigilant public—swiftly dismantled these falsehoods. Globally, Pakistan’s cries of victimhood have fallen on deaf ears. The US has dismissed the conflict as “none of our business,” and even China’s support is tepid, constrained by its economic interests. Within Pakistan, a growing rift between the public and the military is becoming impossible to ignore. Ordinary Pakistanis, weary of economic collapse and perpetual militarisation, are questioning the army’s obsession with Kashmir while their own future crumbles. The world sees a rogue regime, while India’s restraint and precision have earned tacit international approval.
Today, as the saffron hue of sindoor marks not just a woman’s strength but a nation’s defiance, we stand at another defining moment. The road ahead is fraught with peril, but the destination is clear: a subcontinent where terror sponsors are humbled, and the innocent no longer bleed
India now stands at a strategic crossroads, armed with an array of options to keep Pakistan in check. Politically, the government must sustain national unity, ensuring that Pakistan’s attempts to exploit internal divisions fail. Diplomatically, India must rally global pressure to designate Pakistan as a terror sponsor, isolating it further. Militarily, the focus should remain on escalation dominance—maintaining the capability to strike terror camps at will while thwarting Pakistani retaliation. Economically, the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and trade restrictions must continue until Pakistan verifiably dismantles its terror infrastructure. Each lever reinforces the same message: India will no longer tolerate terrorism as a tool of state policy.
For Pakistan, the question is no longer about victory but survival. Can its military establishment afford to divorce itself from terrorism, the very instrument that justifies its stranglehold on power? If yes, then Operation Sindoor has achieved its aim. If not, India must be prepared to impose unbearable costs—not out of vengeance, but to secure a future free from terror. History teaches us that bullies only relent when confronted with unyielding force. From the ashes of Partition to the battlefields of 1971, India’s resolve has always been its greatest weapon. Today, as the saffron hue of sindoor marks not just a woman’s strength but a nation’s defiance, we stand at another defining moment. The road ahead is fraught with peril, but the destination is clear: a subcontinent where terror sponsors are humbled, and the innocent no longer bleed. India will not swerve. The question is—can Pakistan afford not to?
The writer is a Major General from infantry and an expert in Operations Research and Systems Analysis. He commanded a Division along the Line of Control in High Altitude Area and retired as the Deputy Commandant of National Defence Academy.
