Aritra Banerjee

The horrific terrorist strike at Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, resulting in the tragic loss of 25 Indian and one Nepalese lives, demanded swift, resolute action. New Delhi's response was Operation Sindoor, a meticulously planned strike deep into Pakistani territory that dismantled key terrorist infrastructures, reinforcing the strategic acumen and decisive leadership of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, the architect of India's modern anti-terror framework.

Doval's approach to national security is rooted in his decades-long intelligence experience, notably during Punjab's insurgency, covert operations in Kashmir, and handling crises such as the IC-814 Kandahar hijacking in 1999. His strategic doctrine, famously termed "Defensive Offence," prioritises pre-emptive actions, proactive targeting, and decisive retaliation below the nuclear threshold. This strategic clarity was pivotal in planning Operation Sindoor, ensuring pinpoint accuracy in targeting terrorist assets.

Operation Sindoor's success was no accident. Detailed intelligence preparation preceded the operation, with exhaustive analyses of terrorist camp layouts, constructions, terrains, and configurations at Sawai Nala, Muridke, and Bahawalpur. These preparations reflected Doval's deep-seated belief in actionable intelligence as the cornerstone of strategic success and kinetic actions.

Crucially, the operation neutralised significant terrorist leaders, including Mudassir Khadian Khas, the Lashkar-e-Taiba operative in charge at Muridke, Hafiz Muhammed Jameel, the Jaish-e-Mohammed chief strategist at Bahawalpur, and Khalid Abu Akasha, notorious for smuggling arms from Afghanistan. Eliminating such high-value targets at their operational hubs directly reflected Doval's strategic imperative of decisively striking tangible threats rather than abstract terrorism ideologies.

Operation Sindoor's impact under Doval's leadership extended beyond immediate tactical victories. It laid bare the deep civil-military fusion in Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism. Senior Pakistani military officials, including Corps Commander IV Corps Lt Gen Fayyaz Hussain Shah, GOC 11 Infantry Division Maj Gen Rao Imran Sartaj, and Punjab's Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar, were openly present at the funerals of terrorists killed in Muridke. This explicit revelation aligns perfectly with Doval's strategic vision of globally isolating nations sponsoring terrorism through diplomatic exposure and strategic embarrassment.

Post-operation preparedness, a hallmark of Doval's tenure, further demonstrated the strategic shift he had engineered in India's security posture. Following the operation, Indian armed forces swiftly neutralised multiple Pakistani drone infiltrations at Ramnagar, Naushera, and Miran Sahib. These real-time interceptions validated Doval's long-standing emphasis on drone and surveillance capabilities, significantly bolstering India's border security.

Institutionally, Doval's tenure witnessed the unprecedented strengthening of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). The NSCS evolved into India's strategic nerve centre, formally establishing legal empowerment and Cabinet-level influence in 2019. His strategic foresight ensured continuity and innovation by appointing experienced and younger professionals, including India's first Additional NSA, Rajinder Khanna and Deputy NSAs TV Ravichandran and Pavan Kapoor.

Additionally, Operation Sindoor highlighted Doval’s exceptional capability to integrate diverse security dimensions seamlessly into a cohesive operational strategy. His leadership in the Defence Planning Committee (DPC) enhanced inter-agency coordination, enabling rapid and effective responses to evolving threats. This coordinated approach further solidifies India's ability to address dual-front challenges from Pakistan and China comprehensively.

ALSO READ: Akash scientist Prahlada Ramarao remembers mentor APJ Abdul Kalam after missile's success

Ajit Doval's strategic vision and operational precision, demonstrated by Operation Sindoor, have fortified India's immediate security landscape and established enduring principles for future strategic responses. In the face of evolving threats, India stands decisively secure, protected by the foresight, clarity, and meticulous strategies crafted by Ajit Doval, India's foremost security architect.

Aritra Banerjee is co-author of the book The Indian Navy @75: Reminiscing the Voyage.