In the days between the horrific attack on civilians in Pahalgam on April 22 last year and the beginning of Operation Sindoor on May 7, a question loomed large over India’s strategic establishment. After the surgical strikes (2016) and Balakot attack (2019) raised the costs of sponsoring terrorism for Pakistan, what further deterrence could India offer, short of risking all-out war? Pulling off a calibrated response in a nuclearised neighbourhood was no easy task. The success of Operation Sindoor erased doubts about India’s ability to respond to state-sponsored terrorism. Military and strategic targets were struck by the Indian Air Force, and it was clearly communicated that........

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