07 May,2026 02:38 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondent
Operation Sindoor now seen as military ‘gold standard’, says former DGMO. Pic/PTI
Former Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai on Thursday said Pakistan was eventually "compelled to negotiate" and asked India to stop during Operation Sindoor, launched after the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
Speaking at an event in Jaipur marking one year of the operation, Lt Gen Ghai described Operation Sindoor as a "calibrated and precise" military response that achieved its objectives without dragging India into a prolonged conflict, reported ANI.
Operation Sindoor was carried out after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India responded with targeted military action against terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and parts of Pakistan.
Lt Gen Ghai, who was serving as DGMO during the operation, said the mission was carefully planned to inflict maximum damage while avoiding escalation.
"In an era of prolonged conflicts around the world, we struck hard, achieved clearly defined objectives and then decided to cease hostilities when the Pakistanis were compelled to negotiate and requested us to stop," he said.
He added that India's strategy was aimed at changing the enemy's "risk appetite" and disrupting command systems without entering a long-drawn conflict.
Lt Gen Ghai also highlighted the growing role of indigenous defence manufacturing during the operation. "Operation Sindoor proved that Atmanirbhar is not just a slogan, it is indeed a force multiplier," he said, reported the news agency.
According to him, more than 65 per cent of India's defence equipment is now manufactured domestically. Indigenous systems such as the BrahMos missile, Akash air defence system, surveillance tools, electronic warfare systems and locally produced ammunition played a major role during the operation.
He said using homegrown equipment gave India operational flexibility and ensured faster supply and maintenance during military action.
The former DGMO described Operation Sindoor as a coordinated tri-service effort involving the Army, Air Force and maritime capabilities. He said the forces operated with shared intelligence and real-time coordination across domains.
A total of nine precision strikes were carried out seven by the Indian Army and two by the Indian Air Force. "These strikes achieved total surprise and inflicted maximum damage on terror hubs deep inside Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and mainland Pakistan," he said.
Lt Gen Ghai added that the operation sent a strong signal that "no sanctuary is safe", reported the news agency.
He also praised intelligence agencies, cyber units and electronic warfare teams for supporting the operation.
According to him, intelligence inputs helped identify precise targets, while cyber and electronic warfare teams maintained information dominance during the conflict.
He said the government also managed diplomatic outreach, internal security and public communication alongside military operations. "The armed forces executed the kinetic phase with discipline, precision and minimal collateral impact," he said, as per ANI.
Lt Gen Ghai said one of the biggest strengths of Operation Sindoor was the balance between political leadership and operational freedom given to the armed forces.
"This balance between firm direction at the top and professional autonomy at the operational level was critical to our success," he said.
He added that the operation demonstrated India's "whole-of-government approach", where ministries, intelligence agencies, border forces and the armed forces worked together in coordination.
According to him, the operation is now being recognised globally as a "gold standard" in military and strategic planning.
(With ANI Inputs)
