Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks during the “Shaurya Sandhya” event on the 1st anniversary of Operation Sindoor at KG Marg, India Gate, in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Marking the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday (May 7, 2026) released exclusive footage from the military operation targeting terrorist infrastructure linked to the deadly Pahalgam attack. The 88-second video offers a gripping glimpse into the scale, precision and coordination behind one of India’s recent counter-terror operations.
With a prologue ‘A Nation’s Resolve’, the video opens with Prime Minister Narendra Modi declaring, saying “India will identify and punish every terrorist and their backers”. The statement sets the tone for series of high-level war-room deliberations featuring National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and senior military officials overseeing the operation’s strategic planning. The footage then transitions into action sequences, showcasing fighter jets taking to the skies for precision strikes, alongside visuals of advanced naval warfare systems and coordinated military deployment. The video underscores the seamless tri-services coordination and technological capability employed during Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
The precise targets of IAF was carried out in nine locations in Pakistan— Sawai Nala, Syedna Bilal, Kotli Abbas, Kotli Gulpur, Bhimber, Mehmoona Joya, Sarjal-Launchpad, Muridke, and Bahawalpur.
The video also underlines the eight airbases of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) which sustained heavy casualty — Nurkhan, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Bholari, Jacobabad, Rafiqui, Sargodha. Additionally, the video shows the damaged structures of the outfits that carried out Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Significantly, the mission undertaken by the IAF to avenge the perpetrators was covered in 88 hours.
Read More : Pahalgam, one year on: Have we learnt any lesson?
Towards the end of the video, Mr. Modi is seen saying, “Terror and talks cannot go together. Terror and trade cannot go together. Water and blood cannot flow together”.
Operation Sindoor
On April 22, 2025, India saw one of the deadliest terror attacks after terrorists opened fire on tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir which claimed the lives of 26 people. Soon, the security agencies linked ‘The Resistance Front (TRF)’, a Pakistan-backed outfit, behind the heinous incident. The attack triggered nationwide outrage and immediately escalated tensions between India and Pakistan.
Late on the night of May 6 and into the early hours of May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor — a coordinated military offensive involving the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy. The operation marked one of India’s most extensive precision strike missions since Balakot in 2019.
Pakistan responded within few hours. This escalated into cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), particularly in sectors across Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan also reportedly attempted retaliatory drone and missile strikes targeting Indian military installations.
When did the operation end?
On May 10, 2025, India and Pakistan reached an understanding to halt active military operations. Though no formal peace agreement was announced, firing gradually reduced across the border. Indian officials later stated that Operation Sindoor had achieved its primary objective of dismantling major terror infrastructure and delivering what they described as a “decisive punitive response” to the Pahalgam attack.
Published – May 07, 2026 11:41 am IST
