Between May 6 and May 10, India set a new benchmark in Asia’s war strategy. In a bold and unprecedented move, New Delhi struck Pakistan-backed terror infrastructure and targeted air bases and radar sites deep inside the country. This podcast offers a detailed analysis of the events leading up to Operation Sindoor, from the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of innocent civilians, to the geopolitical dynamics involving the United States, the use of Chinese weaponry, and how Indian forces neutralised Turkish drones. This Podcast also presents new facts about how India redefined the rules of engagement in the region.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Colonel Hunny Bakshi, former Commanding Officer of the Technical Support Division (TSD), a military intelligence unit established after the 26/11 attacks; and Lt. Col. Pavithran Rajan, a former intelligence officer, academic, and tech entrepreneur. Together, they unpack how India demonstrated its resolve to strike deep into Pakistan, what lessons were learned, and where further improvement is still needed.

00:00 – Introduction

02:50 – Analysis of Operation Sindoor

05:11 – February 5: Munir’s First Warning

07:52 – How the Pahalgam Attack May Have Happened (Shown on Map)

18:57 – "SSG Commandos Are Terrorists"

21:48 – April 16: Asim Munir’s Second Warning

29:32 – India vs Pakistan-China-Turkey

33:55 – Child Recounts the Pahalgam Horror

41:18 – How Pakistan Fakes the Narrative

44:44 – "War Is a Political Decision"

48:52 – Objectives of Operation Sindoor

51:12 – Proof of Operation Sindoor

54:15 – Donald Trump’s First Reaction to Op Sindoor

01:03:08 – What “Free Hand to the Army” Really Meant

01:04:54 – "Pak Doing Dirty Work For US"

01:05:56 – Iran-Israel War’s Link to Operation Sindoor

01:11:44 – Indian Media Coverage of Operation Sindoor

01:23:02 – India’s Messaging During Operation Sindoor

01:25:27 – India’s Retaliation After the Pahalgam Attack

01:31:45 – How the Indian Air Force Destroyed Pakistan’s Air Bases

01:34:47 – Pakistan’s Bid to Target the Golden Temple

01:37:39 – Jaishankar–Rubio Talks

01:41:47 – JD Vance: “None of Our Business” Statement

01:44:57 – Pakistani Missiles Shot Down in Sirsa

01:52:15 – The U.S. Role in the India–Pakistan Ceasefire

01:59:08 – Why Was There No Action from the Pakistan Navy?

02:04:42 – Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons

02:07:42 – U.S. Funding for Pakistan’s Nuclear Facilities

02:10:38 – Was Nur Khan Airbase Under U.S. Control?

02:13:27 – Debate Over War Duration and Objectives

02:14:48 – Key Takeaways from the India–Pakistan War

02:21:02 – Indian Media Behaviour During Operation Sindoor

02:22:41 – Press Briefings and Perception Management in Wartime

02:27:41 – How India Jammed Pakistani Drones Using ECM

02:32:21 – Disinformation as a War Tactic

02:40:12 – Real-Time Information Flow During War

02:49:57 – Was the Pahalgam Attack a Result of Intel Failure?

02:56:27 – Conclusion