For the first time in the history of the Republic Day parade, the “Battle Array” formation will be deployed- an ode to Operation Sindoor. Showcasing the Indian Army’s operational capabilities, the formation will show the movement of equipment and troops in the order they appear on a battlefield, beginning with intelligence gathering, moving to the main attack, and concluding with support systems.
In a barbaric act on April 22, three terrorists of The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-backed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, killed 25 tourists and one pony operator, based on their religious identity, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Within hours of the terror attack, the TRF claimed responsibility, not once but twice.
A fortnight later, on the intervening night of 06–07 May, India launched Operation Sindoor and delivered justice to the victims through a series of well-planned precision strikes carried out against nine terror hubs located deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
In the highly secretive operation, India carried out strikes against nine terror camps of Hizb-ul-Mujahidin (HM, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) located in both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur – JeM, Markaz Taiba, Muridke – LeT, Sarjal, Tehra Kalan – JeM, Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot – HM, Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala – LeT, Markaz Abbas, Kotli – JeM, Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli – HM, Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad – LeT, and Syedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad – JeM, were neutralised by India’s air defence, counter-drone and electronic warfare systems.
India’s measured counter-action targeted critical Pakistani airbases and command-and-control nodes, a response that culminated in Islamabad seeking a halt to hostilities on May 10, 2025.
The operation also resulted in the neutralisation of more than 100 terrorists, including key trainers and handlers linked to proscribed outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.
According to official accounts, the strikes dismantled major terror infrastructure while ensuring that civilian areas remained unaffected.
In the aftermath, attempts by Pakistan to target Indian military installations using missiles and drones during the intervening night of May 9–10, 2025, were effectively intercepted and thwarted by India’s air defence, counter-drone and electronic warfare systems.
Referring to Operation Sindoor in his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a demonstration of India’s growing defence self-reliance and announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra, an ambitious initiative aimed at overcoming adversary defences through swift, accurate and indigenous military responses.
The mission seeks to strengthen offensive capabilities and establish a comprehensive national security shield by 2035, underscoring India’s commitment to deterrence without yielding to coercion or nuclear intimidation.
In July 2025, the United States formally listed The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, citing its involvement in a series of recent attacks targeting Indian security personnel.
Announcing the decision, the US State Department said the designation reflects Washington’s continued focus on countering terrorism and violent extremism. The US also reaffirmed that Lashkar-e-Taiba will remain on its list of banned terrorist organisations.(Parwinder Sandhu)
