We Hit Hard. We Hit Smart: India Unveils a New Doctrine of Surgical Deterrence in Washington

Shashi Tharoor led India’s post-conflict diplomatic mission to the United States. At the National Press Club, India unveiled a new counterterror doctrine in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam massacre that left 26 civilians dead.

Image Source: ST on X

“No military sites, no civilians—just precision strikes on UN-listed terror camps,” Tharoor said, describing Operation Sindur as a model for modern, responsible retaliation.

The name Sindur, symbolizing the red mark worn by married Indian women, was deliberately chosen. Terrorists executed men in front of their wives—one woman reportedly screamed, “Kill me too.” She was spared, only to be told: “You go back and tell them what we did.”

“That sindur was wiped off 26 foreheads,” Tharoor said. “This wasn’t just an attack—it was targeted cultural cruelty.”

India’s response, the delegation insisted, was not a war, but a calibrated message: terror will meet retribution—but on India’s terms.

“We gave Pakistan 88 hours. They shelled civilians. We responded. When they called for ceasefire, we stopped. No escalation, no appetite for war,” said MP Tejasvi Surya.
“But if it happens again, they know we’ll do it again.”

Former Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Taranjit Singh Sandhu added bluntly:

“This is deterrence for the world to understand. India isn’t reacting anymore. We’re defining the rules.”

The delegation presented India’s approach as a template for democracies confronting state-backed terror. With American lawmakers voicing strong support, the message was clear: India will retaliate—but with law, not chaos.