The recent launch of a book by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Operation Sindoor, claims by Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh that Indian forces destroyed multiple Pakistani aircraft during the Operation, and comical claims by Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti that Indian forces had shot down 13 Pakistani aircraft during the May 2025 war reflect a growing sense of frustration within Indian military and political leadership. Such assertions, made without credible evidence, suggest that New Delhi continues to make futile attempts to win the May 2025 Four-Day War it lost to Pakistan more than a year ago.
India’s attempt to impose a “new normal” in South Asia resulted in a “new abnormal” for itself, marked by military setbacks and diplomatic and reputational damage on the global stage. In contrast, Pakistan emerged from the crisis with renewed confidence, diplomatic prominence and an enhanced reputation as a responsible nuclear weapons state, strengthening its geopolitical standing and strategic relevance in the evolving regional and global security landscape.
Marka-e-Haq (22 April to 10 May 2025) marks a defining chapter in Pakistan’s history, characterised by resilience, national unity and unwavering resolve. During this period, the Armed Forces of Pakistan displayed exemplary courage and professionalism, reinforcing the nation’s confidence and upholding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The people of Pakistan are proud of their brave Armed Forces, whose commitment and sacrifice trounced Indian aggression on all fronts during the Four-Day War.
May 2025 Four-Day War initiated by India against nuclear-armed Pakistan was more than a military contest. It was a historic strategic turning point that: (i) redefined conventional deterrence in South Asia; (ii) represented Pakistan’s military resilience, diplomatic composure and the successful projection of its strategic narrative on the international stage; (iii) demonstrated Pakistan’s capability as well as the will to give a befitting response to counter any military adventurism by India; (iv) reaffirmed Pakistan’s role as a regional stabiliser; (v) restored India-Pakistan hyphenation in global discourse; (vi) refocused international attention on Kashmir as a nuclear flashpoint; (vii) exposed flaws in India’s political judgment, military strategy, intelligence gathering and ability to manage crisis; (viii) exposed India as an irresponsible and reckless nuclear-weapon state, escalating regional tensions and endangering international peace and security based on false flag operations; (ix) raised serious questions among India’s Western partners about its reliability as a “net security provider” in the Asia-Pacific Region; and (x) led to Indian diplomatic disaster and isolation.
After the Pahalgam false flag operation, the Hindutva-driven Modi regime launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan under the code name Operation Sindoor, putting the lives of hundreds of millions at risk for narrow ideological and political gains. However, it also exposed the inherent vulnerabilities of the Indian armed forces, particularly the Indian Air Force (IAF). Failure of Operation Sindoor was reinforced by admissions from senior Indian military officials and assessments by Indian security analysts who questioned the Operation’s tactical effectiveness, strategic logic and diplomatic fallout. Indian military officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, implicitly admitted Indian aircraft losses and blamed them on “tactical errors”. Deputy Chief of the Army Staff of India, Lt General Rahul Singh, while admitting India’s military defeat in Operation Sindoor, pointed to equipment failures and supply-chain delays, exposing weaknesses in India’s military preparedness. In an interview with Karan Thapar on 10 May 2025, Indian defence analyst Pravin Sawhney stated that Operation Sindoor was not merely a mistake, but a blunder, as it exposed the limitations of the IAF.
Pakistan’s response to India’s Operation Sindoor was swift, measured and strategically calibrated. It highlighted Pakistan’s tri-services preparedness. The integration across air, land, sea and cyber domains allowed Pakistan to deliver precision effects and generate overwhelming operational pressure. All platforms functioned in coordination, producing synchronised effects across multiple domains. This synergy allowed Pakistan to respond in a calibrated yet effective manner, while maintaining restraint and avoiding unnecessary escalation.
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) played a critical role by contesting Indian air operations and demonstrating air superiority. On land, the Pakistan Army demonstrated precision and coordination through missile and artillery responses. At sea, the Pakistan Navy maintained readiness and ensured that the conflict did not expand into the maritime domain. This balance between firmness and restraint reflected responsible deterrence and strategic maturity.
India’s attempt to impose a “new normal” in South Asia resulted in a “new abnormal” for itself, marked by military setbacks and diplomatic and reputational damage on the global stage.
The air campaign was the most defining feature of the conflict. Through real-time intelligence, secure data links, superior situational awareness and network-centric operations, the PAF disrupted India’s kill chain while effectively executing its own. The successful employment of J-10C fighters equipped with PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles further underscored the changing technological character of air warfare in the region.
Pakistan’s ability to blunt India’s initial strikes on the night of 6-7 May sent a clear deterrent message that Pakistan’s airspace is well defended and any attempt to dominate it would carry unacceptable costs. In an Interview to Bloomberg on 31 May 2025 in Singapore, CDS Anil Chauhan acknowledged the grounding of the IAF for 48 hours. Indian Defence Attaché in Indonesia, Captain Shiv Kumar, also admitted the IAF having suffered losses in the air battle. This further reinforced the psychological and operational impact of Pakistan’s response. During the largest aerial engagements in South Asian history, 42 PAF fighters engaged 72 Indian aircraft during the initial phase, in which India lost eight aircraft, including four Rafales, one Mirage 2000, one Su-30MKI, one MiG-29 and an Israeli-origin Heron UAV.
For the first time in more than a year, the Modi government has found the moral courage to officially acknowledge the loss of at least six Indian military personnel during Operation Sindoor. This long-delayed admission has sparked a political storm in India, with opposition parties demanding the resignation of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for concealing the casualties from the public and misleading Parliament.
Pakistan’s measured yet firm response, particularly through Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, demonstrated its growing military sophistication, technological adaptability and strategic maturity. The effective use of multi-domain operations, real-time intelligence and precision strikes marked a new phase in Pakistan’s defence posture, where tactical precision was aligned with broader political and strategic objectives. Pakistan struck 26 military targets across Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and mainland India, including air bases, BrahMos storage sites at Beas and Nagrota, S-400 batteries at Adampur and Bhuj and logistics and radar facilities in areas such as Uri and Poonch. Pakistan used Fatah-I and II missiles, precision munitions, loitering munitions and cyber operations to ensure India’s defeat.
The media front became a crucial battleground where narratives, perceptions and reputations were established. While India relied heavily on disinformation, sensationalism and misleading narratives, Pakistani media messaging was timely, credible and effective in shaping both domestic confidence and international perception. By maintaining credibility in the information space, Pakistan effectively countered India’s narrative campaign while reinforcing its image of a responsible state.
Pakistan also gained diplomatic ground by presenting its case responsibly before the international community. While India attempted to frame the crisis through unsubstantiated allegations regarding the false-flag Pahalgam incident, Pakistan called for an impartial investigation and maintained a calm and responsible international posture. This strengthened Pakistan’s credibility and weakened India’s attempt to dominate the global narrative. India faced reputational damage for escalating against a nuclear-armed neighbour.
Through proactive engagement with major powers, multilateral institutions and international media, Pakistan successfully projected India’s actions as destabilising and escalatory, while presenting itself as a responsible state committed to ensuring peace and stability in the region and beyond. Thus, Pakistan’s success was not confined to the battlefield. It emerged from the synergy of political leadership, armed forces, diplomacy, media engagement and public unity. This whole-of-nation response enabled Pakistan to project resolve without recklessness and strength without adventurism.
The May 2025 Four-Day War exposed a sharp contrast between Pakistan’s calibrated strategic restraint and India’s increasingly dangerous strategic trajectory. This contrast becomes even more significant when viewed against India’s evolving military posture. Ironically, despite India’s humiliating defeat in the Four-Day War, BJP-led Hindutva ideologues continue to threaten Pakistan with “Operation Sindoor 2.0,” reflecting irresponsible state behaviour in a nuclearised region. Thus, the presence of nuclear weapons under Indian leadership influenced by extremist Hindutva ideology makes this trajectory even more dangerous for regional and international peace and security.
Indian military modernisation and its implications have long been a major subject of debate within the South Asian security calculus. However, with India’s expanding missile ranges, nuclear modernisation, and pursuit of advanced strategic capabilities, this debate is no longer confined to the regional context. It has entered the Western security calculus, raising concerns about the broader implications of India’s evolving military posture for global peace and security. The statement of retired Indian Major General G.D. Bakshi threatening to destroy New York and Washington with Agni-V ICBMs and K-5 SLBMs shows how the Hindutva mindset is influencing Indian strategic thinking. A state that has demonstrated reckless escalation, repeatedly launched unproved attacks against its nuclear armed neighbour since 2019, while simultaneously pursuing global nuclear strike capabilities and tolerating extremist nuclear rhetoric, cannot be treated as a responsible nuclear weapons state.
In April 2025, India sought to malign Pakistan by organising a Pahalgam false flag operation and blaming it on Islamabad. However, the international community rejected India’s narrative against Pakistan in the absence of credible evidence. By April 2026, Pakistan emerged with a significantly enhanced geopolitical profile. Islamabad repositioned itself as a regional stabiliser, a trustworthy peacemaker and a constructive diplomatic actor capable of engaging major powers and regional stakeholders alike. To the contrary, India has increasingly become geopolitically irrelevant, diplomatically isolated and strategically weak. Therefore, the May 2025 Four-Day War will not be remembered as India’s moment of dominance, but as the moment its illusion of being a regional hegemon was shattered.
The writer is Associate Director (Research) at the Centre for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS).