Farooq tantary cni
2025 will go down in history as a memorable year for the Ministry of Defence, as the ‘Year of Reforms’ not only witnessed the nation making unprecedented strides to achieve the goal of Aatmanirbharta in defence, it also saw the unmatched valour, commitment and precision of the Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor powered by the country’s transitional shift in its policy against terrorism. From successfully destroying terror camps in Pakistan & PoK and safeguarding the borders from the neighbouring country’s misdeeds that followed, the nation, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, sent a clear message to its adversaries that the sovereignty, unity & integrity of Bharat will never be compromised. The effective use of state-of-the-art Made-in-India weapons during the operation is testimony to the progress the country has made to attain self-reliance, which, in today’s geopolitical landscape, is fundamental to ensuring strategic autonomy. From Operation Sindoor to Mission Sudarshan Charka vision of PM Modi, from record defence production and exports to equipping the soldiers with latest weapons/technologies and finalising deals for the future, 2025 gave a glimpse of a secure, self-reliant and prosperous India.

Operation Sindoor
The operation was launched on the intervening night of May 06 & 07, 2025, in response to a heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, J&K, that claimed the lives of 26 innocent people, including a Nepali citizen, on April 22, 2025. The well-coordinated strikes carried out by the Indian Armed Forces precisely hit nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK, killing over 100 terrorists, their trainers, handlers, and associates. Most of the terrorists belonged to organisations like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The operation inflicted maximum damage on the terrorists and their hideouts, and minimum harm to the civilian population. In his address in Parliament on July 28 & 29, 2025, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the action was completely in self-defence, and was neither provocative nor expansionist.
On May 10, 2025 at approx. 1:30 am, Pakistan launched a massive attack on Indian Air Force bases, Army ammunition depots, airports, and military cantonments using missiles, drones, rockets, and other long-range weapons, along with electronic warfare technologies. The Indian Air Defence System, Counter-Drone system, and electronic equipment completely thwarted the attack by Pakistan. The adversary failed to hit any targets, and none of the vital assets were damaged. India’s response to this Pakistani attack was bold, decisive, and effective. The Indian Air Force targeted Pakistani airbases, command and control centers, military infrastructure, and air defence systems on the Western Front. Major airbases like Chaklala, Sargodha, Rafiqui, Rahimyar Khan, Jacobabad, Sukkur, and Bholari were struck, and the mission was successfully accomplished. On May 10, Pakistan’s DGMO contacted India’s DGMO and appealed for a halt to military operations. On May 12, formal talks took place between the two DGMOs, and both sides decided to cease military operations.
Operation Sindoor marked a milestone in India’s journey towards technological self-reliance in military operations – whether in drone warfare, layered air defence, or electronic warfare. It was also a shining example of Tri-service coordination. While the Indian Air Force launched attacks from the air, the Army soldiers stood firmly on the Line of Control and delivered a befitting reply to every Pakistani action. The Indian Navy maintained its strong posture in the North Arabian Sea, sending a clear message to Pakistan that India is capable and prepared to strike at every vital Pakistani base, from sea to land, Raksha Mantri had said. He told the Parliament that Operation Sindoor has only been halted, and not ended. “If Pakistan again tries to carry out any nefarious act, we are fully prepared for an even more intense and decisive action,” he said.cni