Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have personally chosen the name “Operation Sindoor” for India’s recent military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam — a name symbolising the pain and resilience of the widows left behind.

According to top government sources, Modi was deeply moved by the human toll of the Pahalgam massacre that claimed 26 civilian lives. In a series of high-level security meetings over the past week, he reportedly underscored the fact that the terror strike had shattered families, deliberately targeting men and leaving women widowed.

By choosing “Sindoor” — the sacred vermilion symbol of marriage worn by Hindu women — the Prime Minister aimed to both honour the grieving wives and send a message of unwavering resolve.

India’s retaliation came in the form of a rare and complex tri-services operation, involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force in synchronised attacks across multiple fronts. The coordinated effort targeted nine terror-linked locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Launched in the early hours, the mission struck known hideouts of proscribed terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen. Four targets were located inside Pakistan, while five were situated in PoK.

Key targets included:

• Jaish’s Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur and Sarjal camp in Tehra Kalan

• Markaz Abbas in Kotli and Syedna Bilal training site in Muzaffarabad

• Lashkar’s Markaz Taiba in Muridke and Ahle Hadith centre in Barnala

• Hizbul’s Makaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli and a facility in Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot

These strikes were carried out using a combination of air and sea platforms, with an emphasis on precision. Officials say this was one of India’s most significant cross-border counter-terrorism efforts since the Balakot airstrikes in 2019.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Defence at 1:44 AM on Wednesday confirmed the operation, stating:
"A short while ago, Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir — locations linked to planned and directed attacks against India."

India’s response was executed exactly two weeks after the Pahalgam bloodshed, sending a clear signal that terror strikes on Indian soil will not go unanswered.