PM Modi convenes first Council meet post-Operation Sindoor: what’s next for India?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened the first Union Council of Ministers meeting since Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
The meeting coincides with the completion of Modi 3.0’s first year in office and serves as a platform to review national security and counterterrorism policies.

Operation Sindoor, initiated on May 7, targeted terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating nine terror sites. The Indian armed forces employed indigenous FPV drones, Heron UAVs, and tactical loitering munitions, including the India-built JM-1, marking a new era in drone warfare.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan acknowledged early operational mistakes during Sindoor but emphasized their rectification and the operation’s decisive advantage.

"India has set a 'new normal' in its response to terrorism," PM Modi stated, underscoring the government’s firm stance.

Opposition parties, led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and RJD MP Manoj K Jha, have demanded a special parliamentary session to discuss Operation Sindoor, security lapses, and future strategy. However, government sources currently see no plan for such a session.

Internationally, India has intensified diplomatic outreach, with all-party delegations visiting countries like Brazil, Malaysia, and Spain to build global cooperation against terrorism. Brazil and Spain have expressed solidarity and condemned terrorism against Indian civilians.

Shashi Tharoor highlighted India’s efforts to expose Pakistan-based terror groups like The Resistance Front at the United Nations, despite alleged Pakistani and Chinese pressure to deny acknowledgment.

The Council meeting also reviewed the implementation of key government policies amid heightened tensions with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, domestic controversies have arisen, such as the Calcutta High Court’s refusal to grant interim bail to a content creator accused of inflammatory remarks post-Operation Sindoor, reflecting the sensitive social climate.

This meeting marks a critical juncture as India consolidates its counterterrorism doctrine and seeks broader international support while managing internal political and social challenges.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened the first Union Council of Ministers meeting post-Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The session, marking Modi 3.0’s one-year milestone, focused on national security, counterterrorism strategy, and international diplomatic outreach amid opposition calls for a special parliamentary session.