Why India named its Pahalgam counterstrike 'Operation Sindoor'

A terrorist attack in India-controlled Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 widowed 25 women, one of them married just days ago. In this regard, India has named its all-out strike against Pakistan-based terror sites Operation Sindoor, NDTV reports.

Sindoor in Hindi means vermilion, which Hindu women put on their head as a symbol of marriage. The name of the operation captures the loss of these women, whose partners were brutally killed in front of their eyes. 

An image put out by the Indian Army has Operation Sindoor written in block letters. One 'O' in Sindoor is a bowl of vermilion. The caption read: "Justice is served. Jai Hind."

It was India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi who chose the name Operation Sindoor, news agency PTI has reported, quoting sources. 

This is the first time since the 1971 War that India has launched a combined tri-series operation. The Indian Army, Navy and Air Force conducted precision strikes at 1.44 am on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in response.

India has struck bases in Pakistan and PoK, including the headquarters of the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Resistance Front, a proxy of Lashkar, had claimed responsibility for the attack.

"Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution. We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held responsible," India said in a statement.

Pakistan retaliated with cross-border firing and artillery shelling at Indian villages along the Line of Control, killing three civilians.

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary, Director General of ISPR, said India struck sites in Kotli, Muridke, Bahawalpur, Chak Amru, Bhimber, Gulpur, Sialkot and two sites in Muzaffarabad. Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Chak Amru and Muridke are located across the international border and the rest across the Line of Control in PoK. Muridke is where the headquarters of the Hafiz Seed-led Lashkar-e-Taiba are located. Bahalwapur, on the other hand, is in Pakistan's Punjab province and is the base of Jaish-e-Mohammad.

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" on his X handle. Minutes after India announced that it conducted the strikes, the Indian Army posted on X and said, "Justice is served. Jai Hind." Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said, "Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given."