From Surgical Strikes to Operation Sindoor: India’s New Anti-Terror Doctrine Under Modi Govt | N18V

Published 8 June 2026 · india

It was surgical strike in 2016, air strikes in 2019 and operations in June 2025. Every time it was a decisive step against terrorism. And

It was surgical strike in 2016, air strikes in 2019 and operations in June 2025. Every time it was a decisive step against terrorism. And one thing that is appreciated of the current Modi government is its approach against terrorism. The Helgaam terror attack happened in 2025, in fact, in April 2025. And after that, Operation Sindhoor was launched to not just events per Helgaam terror attack, but also in response to a series of activities that had happened south of Pir Panjal in Rajori and Punt sector and also in Kashmir. And this time, message was loud and clear that if you will do it again, we won't tolerate it. Nine hundreds of terrorists who were residing in those camps were neutralized. Since 2012, we have seen that how Modi government has been focusing on Atner-Varta. And Atner-Varta is actually the response to the sort of activities that we have seen in the last few years. When a conflict like Operation Sindhoor starts, you cannot just depend on foreign technology or equipment.

And that is the reason why preparations were started since 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi first came to power. His message to the armed forces and the defence industry was that we will have to cut short our dependence on foreign equipment and platforms. Earlier, India used to import from countries like US, Russia, France and others. Even today, we are importing from these countries, but it has come down. And today, India has built capabilities where the armed forces can sustain conflicts like what we saw in 2025. Systems like Akash did, missiles like Akash and also a variety of platforms and equipment are built here in India itself and India is not relying on other countries. This was the motive. of the current government. Since 2014, there has been a focus on Atner-Varta. And today when we are standing here in 2026, India has its own aircraft carrier for Navy. India has its own fighter for Indian Air Force.

And there is a variety of systems including the artillery guns that India has been developing for Indian Army. Approach against terrorism and atner-Varta are the two major factors that derive the sort of appreciation that the Modi government get today. In the last 12 years when we have seen this government functioning, there has been a focus on strengthening the sort of capabilities that Indian armed forces can have. And this is the reason why agencies like DRDO have constantly been working on indigenous technology. In fact, at this point in time, there are a number of things that are being developed here in the country itself. Back in 2025 when Operation Sindur was launched, message was loud and clear that it is not about Pakistan or China that is supporting all countries like Turkey. It is about the response that India will have in fact to the sort of terror activities that have happened. And a red line was drawn then.