'India can take risks, hit hard': NSA says message to world clear after Op Sindoor

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has delivered a definitive message to Islamabad, asserting that India will strike hard against its adversaries. The statement came in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes launched on May 7, targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Doval's remarks highlight India's evolving deterrence posture, emphasizing that the country can take calculated risks and confront consequences without cowering. He clarified that India's generosity or tolerance should not be misconstrued as weakness. According to Doval, demonstrating a willingness to act is crucial for effective deterrence.

Operation Sindoor was launched as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of unarmed tourists in Kashmir. The operation aimed to showcase India's resolve and capability to act decisively when faced with such threats.

During the initial stages of the operation, India ensured that no Pakistani military or civilian facility was targeted, signaling a controlled approach rather than a hesitant one. This distinction was made to demonstrate India's control over the situation.

India's punitive strikes were directed at terror infrastructure, targeting the terrorists responsible for the attack. However, Pakistan retaliated militarily, employing artillery, drones, and missiles across the frontier from Gujarat to Kashmir. In response, India retaliated, dismantling Pakistan's air defense weapons, radar sites, and eventually striking Pakistani airbases.

By the end of the 88-hour conflict on May 10, India demonstrated its military superiority over Pakistan. The strikes dismantled Pakistan's nuclear bluff, showcasing that India has multiple options within the nuclear threshold. Additionally, the operation proved that any part of Pakistan can be targeted, leaving the country vulnerable to potential strikes.

Despite Pakistan's attempts to target Indian airbases and military installations, their strikes were largely ineffective, with many being thwarted by Indian air defenses. Notably, a ballistic weapon strike was shot down over the Sira air base. As a result, India emerged as the superior military force in the conflict.