Pakistan May Attempt Another Pahalgam-Style Attack, But India Warns of a Deadlier “Operation Sindoor 2.0”

India has issued a stern warning to Pakistan following intelligence inputs suggesting possible attempts to repeat a Pahalgam-style terrorist strike. Western Army Commander Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar has made it clear that while Pakistan might continue its strategy of “bleeding India through a thousand cuts,” any such provocation will invite a far stronger response — one that the military calls Operation Sindoor 2.0. The warning reflects India’s renewed posture of assertive deterrence in response to state-sponsored terrorism.

Katiyar was replying to a question on whether Operation Sindoor 2.0 will be deadlier | NDTV

The Pahalgam Attack: A Tragic Trigger

The April 2025 Pahalgam attack marked one of the deadliest terror incidents in recent memory. A group of armed militants ambushed tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Eyewitnesses recalled that the attackers interrogated victims about their religion before opening fire. Twenty-six people, mostly Hindu pilgrims, were brutally killed, along with one Christian and one Muslim civilian.

The assault sent shockwaves across the nation and exposed the growing involvement of Pakistan-backed outfits operating across the border. The militant group The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a shadow organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was initially suspected, though it later denied direct responsibility. The attack once again underlined how terrorism continues to be used as a tool to destabilize peace in the region.

Operation Sindoor: India’s Strategic Response

In May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a precision military campaign targeting terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was designed to cripple the network of training camps, drone facilities, and logistical bases that enable cross-border terrorism.

Unlike earlier limited responses, Operation Sindoor marked a shift in India’s doctrine — from defensive restraint to calibrated, offensive deterrence. According to defense reports, nine key sites were targeted with a combination of air and missile strikes. The Indian Air Force later confirmed that all assigned objectives were “successfully executed” without targeting Pakistani civilian or conventional military assets.

Independent defense analysts described the operation as a defining moment for India’s counter-terrorism strategy — one that allowed New Delhi to assert strength while maintaining control over escalation dynamics. Pakistan, however, retaliated with drone and artillery fire across the Line of Control, triggering brief hostilities that eventually subsided after Indian dominance became clear.

Pakistan’s Continued Proxy Strategy

Despite international condemnation and heavy losses during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan appears to have doubled down on its long-standing proxy approach. Military experts suggest that Islamabad, burdened by economic decline and political instability, cannot afford direct confrontation. Instead, it relies on asymmetric tactics — training and arming militant groups to strike Indian targets and provoke unrest in Jammu & Kashmir.

Lieutenant General Katiyar remarked that Pakistan “lacks the capacity or will for conventional warfare,” but continues its policy of low-intensity, high-impact terrorism. He warned that the Indian Army remains fully alert to these dangers and will retaliate with greater force should Pakistan attempt another cross-border attack.

Operation Sindoor 2.0: A Message of Deterrence

In his recent statement, Lt. Gen. Katiyar made it clear that the next phase — Operation Sindoor 2.0 — would be “deadlier” and more comprehensive than before. The army, he said, has already damaged Pakistan’s forward posts and air bases during the first operation, and is prepared for an even stronger counterstrike if provoked again.

This declaration serves both as a warning and a message of confidence. It underscores India’s growing readiness to preempt threats before they materialize. Operation Sindoor 2.0, if executed, would likely integrate advanced drone technology, satellite coordination, and precision-guided weaponry, combining air, land, and cyber capabilities for maximum impact.

Strategic Implications and International Reactions

India’s evolving strategy signifies a broader shift from reactive diplomacy to proactive defense. The message is unambiguous — terrorism will not be tolerated, and proxy actors will pay a heavy price. Yet, this approach carries risks. A forceful response could be misinterpreted by Pakistan, leading to an escalation spiral between two nuclear-armed nations.

International observers have urged restraint, emphasizing dialogue and de-escalation. However, India’s global allies, including the United States and France, have acknowledged New Delhi’s right to defend itself against terrorism emanating from across the border. The designation of The Resistance Front as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. further validates India’s stance.

Beyond the Battlefield: Diplomacy and Public Sentiment

Operation Sindoor also holds symbolic significance beyond its military success. It has become a point of national pride, reflecting India’s ability to defend its citizens and respond decisively to terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s description of India’s cricket victory over Pakistan as “Operation Sindoor on the games field” captured the public sentiment — a mix of confidence, patriotism, and defiance.

However, critics argue that such rhetoric risks blurring the line between sport and politics. Pakistan’s leaders condemned the comment as “provocative,” accusing India of militarizing every bilateral engagement. Yet, within India, public opinion largely favors a strong retaliatory posture against cross-border terrorism.

The MGMM Outlook

We see the Pahalgam massacre and the subsequent Indian response as a painful reminder that cross-border terrorism remains an active, horrific threat that demands firm action. The April 2025 ambush of pilgrims exposed how Pakistan-linked proxy outfits still try to inflame communal tensions and strike soft targets, and India’s Operation Sindoor was a clear shift from passive retaliation to calibrated offensive deterrence — degrading terrorist infrastructure and signalling that such attacks will be met with decisive force. From our perspective, when a nation is attacked in such a brutal, communal way, taking the fight to the infrastructure that enables those attacks is a legitimate and proportionate step to protect citizens and deter future violence.

At the same time, we emphasise that hard power must be balanced with strategic prudence. Threatening or executing a “Sindoor 2.0” may deliver tactical gains and satisfy public demands for retribution, but it also raises the real risk of escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbours and could harden cycles of proxy violence. Therefore, our view is that India should continue to use precise, intelligence-driven operations to dismantle terrorist capabilities while simultaneously pursuing diplomatic channels, international pressure on state sponsors of terror, and measures that reduce local grievances exploited by militants — so deterrence does not drift into uncontrollable confrontation.

(Sources: NDTV, Indian Express)