India's Military Valour

Operation Gulmarg (1947-48)

• Date: October 1947 - January 1949
• Objective: To counter infiltration into Jammu & Kashmir by Pakistan backed tribal militia and regular army.
• Result: Indian Army airlifted troops (1 Sikh Regiment) to Srinagar, 800+ sorties. India controlled two-thirds of Jammu & Kashmir, rest became PoK. UN brokered ceasefire.

Operation Ablaze (1965)

• Date: April-June 1965
• Objective: Defensive military deployment on the western border in response to rising tensions and Pakistani attacks in the Rann of Kutch.
• Result: The war avoided direct confrontation but demonstrated India's military preparedness, laying the groundwork for the 1965 war.

Operation Riddle (1965)

• Date: 6 September 1965
• Objective: To counter Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar and Grand Slam (infiltration in Kashmir).
• Result: Indian Army crossed LoC and attacked Lahore and Kasur, weakening Pakistani Army. War ended with Tashkent Agreement in September 1965.

Operation Cactus Lily (1971)

• Date: December 1971
• Objective: Helicopter troops across the Meghna River during the Bangladesh Liberation War, bypass Pakistani defences.
• Result: Indian forces make rapid advance towards Dhaka, leading to the independence of Bangladesh and the defeat of Pakistan.

Operation Trident (1971)

• Date: December 4-5, 1971
• Objective: Naval attack on Karachi port, weaken Pakistani Navy.
• Result: India uses anti-ship missiles for the first time, destroys Pakistani ships and fuel depots. Establishes Indian naval superiority.

Operation Python (1971)

• Date: December 1971
• Objective: Second naval attack on Karachi after Operation Trident.
• Result: Further losses to Pakistani Navy, confirms India's maritime dominance.

Operation Meghdoot (1984)

• Date: 13 April 1984
• Objective: To halt Pakistani advance and establish control over the Siachen Glacier.
• Result: India gained full control over the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield.

Operation Vijay (1999)

• Date: May-July 1999
• Objective: To take back areas occupied by Pakistani troops and terrorists in the Kargil sector.
• Result: Indian Army liberated all captured posts, won the Kargil War.

Operation Safed Sagar (1999)

• Date: May-July 1999
• Objective: Air support by the Indian Air Force in the Kargil War, precision bombing of high altitude Pakistani targets.
• Result: Use of air power for the first time since 1971, India gained strategic advantage.

Uri Surgical Strike (2016)

• Date: 28-29 September, 2016
• Objective: To destroy terror launch pads in PoK in response to the Uri attack (19 Indian soldiers martyred).
• Result: Indian Special Forces crossed the LoC and destroyed several terror camps, demonstrating India's proactive counter-terrorism policy.

Operation Bandar (2019)

• Date: 26 February, 2019
• Objective: Air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Balakot (Pakistan) in response to the Pulwama attack (40 CRPF jawans martyred on 14 February, 2019).
• Result: First air strike across LoC since 1971, several terrorists claimed dead. Pakistan retaliated, capturing and later releasing Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

Operation Sindoor (2025)

• Date: 7 May 2025
• Objective: Precision strikes on 9 terror camps (Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen) in Pakistan and PoK in response to Pahalgam terror attack (22 April 2025, 26 civilians killed).
• Result: Indian Army, Navy and Air Force carried out 24 precision strikes in 25 minutes, killing 100+ terrorists and 35-40 Pakistani soldiers. India foiled 600-1,000 Pakistani drone/missile attacks with S-400, Akash-NG and Bhargavastra. This was the first joint action of the three services after 1971.