Operation SINDOOR: The Untold Story of India's Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan

by K.J.S. Dhillon

A definitive account of India’s decisive military response to Pakistan-backed terrorism — told by Lt Gen K.J.S. Dhillon, one of India’s most respected Army commanders.

On 22 April 2025, the Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, south Kashmir, witnessed a horrifying attack when heavily armed terrorists from the Resistance Front, a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), fully sponsored by the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), shattered its serenity with gunfire, killing twenty-six innocent individuals and injuring several others. The victims included newlyweds, elderly parents and solo trekkers. A Hindu professor narrowly escaped death by reciting the kalma, a Christian sacrificed his life to save his family and a local Muslim was killed while saving others. This was an attempt to rupture India’s religious harmony and create widespread outrage in the country.

India chose to respond to this incident, which shook not just the nation but the world, with Operation SINDOOR, showcasing its military modernization and might. The mission targeted terror camps, including the ones in Bahawalpur and Muridke, linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and LeT, respectively, and terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India’s response demonstrated military professionalism, technological maturity and diplomatic sagacity, ensuring regional stability while delivering a powerful message against Pakistan and its terror factory. This book carries minute details and a blow-by-blow account of the ‘Four-Day War’ between two hostile nuclear powers. The author underscores the intelligent use of media and social media in the battle of narratives, discusses the ‘new normal’ and emerging rules of engagement, and suggests a way forward.

Offering hitherto unrevealed information, Lt Gen. ‘Tiny’ Dhillon (Retd) opens a window to Operation SINDOOR, a testament to the strength of the Indian military and the unity of India when confronted with an adverse situation. With visuals from the destroyed target areas, this book is a powerful reminder of the impact of terrorism and the enduring hope for peace and justice.

Operation SINDOOR is a must-read for everyone.

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2025

Reviews

[vikrant dhiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fact file and well consolidated book about what happened, the book gives a detailed day wise run down including the preparations and context of symbolism and strategic communication during the strikes.

There is a separate chapter for operations along the LC giving vivid details of fire exchanges.

A nice read.

[Sree HS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insights into the different aspects of Operation SINDOOR. To the civilians who are just relying on the information being presented by media, this book is a door to world of actual action. Along with the IAF, involvement of media narrative, Diplomacy & CyberSpace control can win us wars as demonstrated by Operation SINDOOR. Jai Hind 🇮🇳

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading K.J.S. Dhillon’s 'Operation SINDOOR: The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan' is not like reading history at a safe remove. It feels closer to sitting in a dim operations room where decisions are made under pressure, where ambiguity is not a philosophical posture but a daily operational condition, and where the cost of miscalculation is counted in lives, escalation, and national consequence.

This is not a book interested in myth-making for its own sake, but neither is it an exercise in cold academic detachment. It occupies an uneasy middle ground: part memoir, part strategic testimony, part corrective to narratives that are either sensationalized or deliberately opaque.

What struck me immediately was the tone. Dhillon writes with confidence. There is no breathless chest-thumping, no cinematic exaggeration of covert action as heroic spectacle. Instead, the prose carries a certain professional restraint, the kind that comes from having lived inside institutions where silence is as important as speech. That restraint, paradoxically, makes the book more intense. You sense the weight of what is not being said as much as what is.

At its core, 'Operation SINDOOR' is an attempt to reclaim narrative authority. For decades, India’s military responses to provocations across the Line of Control have been discussed through rumor, media leaks, political posturing, and foreign analysis.

Dhillon positions himself against this fog. He is not trying to reveal everything, but he is trying to establish a frame: what kinds of actions were possible, what kinds were chosen, and why restraint and aggression are not opposites but tools on the same continuum.

The title itself is revealing. 'SINDOOR' is not just an operational code name; it is symbolically loaded. Sindoor evokes marriage, continuity, commitment, and loss. It is impossible to read the title without sensing that the book is consciously tying military action to civilizational meaning. This can be unsettling. There is always a risk, when symbolism enters strategic discourse, that violence acquires a moral glow it does not deserve.

Yet Dhillon is careful, more careful than critics might expect. The symbolism does not excuse action; it contextualizes stakes. It reminds the reader that military decisions reverberate far beyond tactical success.
One of the book’s strongest elements is its demystification of “deep strikes.”

Dhillon refuses the popular caricature of covert operations as either surgical miracles or reckless gambles. Instead, he presents them as deeply constrained acts, bounded by intelligence quality, political authorization, international optics, and escalation thresholds.

Reading these sections, I was reminded how impoverished public debate often is when it treats national security as either swagger or surrender. Dhillon insists on a third register: calibrated force.

The Pakistan dimension is handled with a notable lack of hysteria. This is not a book that indulges in demonization for emotional effect. Pakistan appears not as an abstract enemy but as a strategic actor with its own internal fractures, doctrines, and compulsions.

The Inter-Services Intelligence is discussed not as an omnipotent villain but as a persistent, adaptive institution whose strengths and limitations must be understood, not caricatured. This analytical sobriety lends the book credibility. Dhillon does not need to exaggerate the adversary to justify Indian action.

What makes the narrative compelling is its constant return to decision-making under uncertainty. Intelligence is never complete. Political signals are never perfectly aligned. Media narratives are often hostile or misinformed. Dhillon shows how operations are shaped as much by what leaders fear as by what they know.

There is a recurring awareness that every action sends multiple messages: to the adversary, to domestic audiences, to allies, and to the global strategic community. Reading this, I felt a renewed respect for how narrow the margin for error really is.

The book also serves as a quiet indictment of armchair nationalism. Dhillon is unsparing about the gap between public rhetoric and operational reality. He does not mock civilian enthusiasm, but he makes clear how dangerous it can be when public discourse demands maximalist responses without understanding consequences.

In this sense, 'Operation SINDOOR' is as much a civic intervention as a military memoir. It asks citizens to grow up, to accept that national security is not a Bollywood script but a grim arithmetic of risk.

There are moments where the book edges close to self-justification, and it would be dishonest to pretend otherwise. Dhillon was a participant, not a neutral observer. His framing of events naturally privileges institutional logic and chain-of-command rationality. Civilian political dissent, media skepticism, and international criticism are sometimes treated as background noise rather than substantive counterarguments. This is where a critical reader must remain alert. The book is honest, but it is honest from a position of authority.

Yet even here, Dhillon’s transparency about constraints mitigates the risk. He repeatedly emphasizes that military leadership does not operate in a vacuum. Civilian oversight is real. Political hesitation is real. International pressure is real. The myth of the all-powerful general is quietly dismantled. What remains is a portrait of a system in which responsibility is distributed but accountability is still personal.

One of the most unsettling aspects of the book is its treatment of escalation. Dhillon does not romanticize brinkmanship. He is acutely aware of nuclear shadows, of how South Asia’s strategic environment makes even limited action fraught.

The book conveys a sense of walking along a ridge, where every step must be measured. This awareness gives depth to discussions of restraint. Restraint here is not weakness; it is discipline under existential risk.

Reading 'Operation SINDOOR' also forced me to reflect on how secrecy shapes democratic memory. Democracies demand transparency, but security often demands silence. Dhillon’s book sits uncomfortably in that tension. It reveals enough to inform, but not enough to fully satisfy curiosity. Some readers will find this frustrating. I found it appropriate. The book respects the reader without indulging voyeurism.

Stylistically, the prose is functional rather than literary, but it carries its own austere rhythm. There are no flourishes, no dramatic set pieces designed for quotation. The intensity comes from accumulation: detail layered upon detail, context upon context. By the end, the reader feels the weight of institutional time, the slow grind of preparedness punctuated by moments of crisis.

What stayed with me most after finishing the book was its implicit argument about sovereignty. Sovereignty here is not merely territorial; it is narrative. Dhillon is asserting India’s right not only to act, but to explain its actions on its own terms. In a global environment where narratives are contested as fiercely as borders, this assertion matters. The book becomes an act of strategic communication in itself.

At the same time, there is a quiet melancholy running through the narrative. For all its professionalism, the book never lets you forget that military success is always partial. No operation resolves the underlying political conflict. No strike delivers closure. The violence described here is instrumental, not redemptive. That refusal to offer catharsis is one of the book’s strengths.

Personally, I found myself oscillating between admiration and unease. Admiration for the discipline, clarity, and seriousness with which these operations were conceived and executed. Unease at how normalized such actions can become, how easily extraordinary measures slip into routine strategic language. The book does not resolve this tension, and perhaps it should not. That discomfort is the price of honesty.

'Operation SINDOOR' is not for readers seeking easy reassurance or ideological confirmation. It demands patience, maturity, and a willingness to engage with complexity. It will likely be misread by those determined to extract slogans from it. That would be a disservice. The book’s value lies precisely in its resistance to simplification.

In the end, what Dhillon offers is not a celebration of force but a meditation on responsibility. Power, in this account, is heavy, constrained, and morally incomplete. Decisions are made not because they are perfect, but because inaction carries its own costs. That recognition, sober and unglamorous, gives the book its enduring gravity.

Closing the book, I did not feel triumphant or alarmed. I felt more aware. Aware of how fragile stability is, how much effort goes into preserving it, and how little of that effort is visible to the public. In an era of loud opinions and thin understanding, 'Operation SINDOOR' stands as a demanding, necessary read: not to tell us what to think, but to show us how difficult thinking really is when the stakes are real.

Most recommended.

[Sameer Gudhate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The night I began Operation SINDOOR, the house was quiet in that fragile way silence gets after the news has exhausted itself. The phone lay face down. Outside, a distant train horn stitched the darkness together. I didn’t open the book expecting drama. I opened it expecting clarity. What I didn’t expect was to feel as if I’d stepped into a low-lit operations room where time moves in half-seconds and every choice leaves a residue.

Lt Gen K.J.S. Dhillon doesn’t write like someone trying to impress you. He writes like someone who has already lived the consequences of being wrong. That difference matters. From the first pages, the narrative carries the weight of professional restraint—measured, disciplined, almost austere. There is no cinematic swagger here. No indulgence in myth. The prose is functional, yes, but it is also deliberate, shaped by an understanding that language itself can escalate or contain.

The book circles the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam attack like a wound you cannot look away from. The details are known, yet reading them here feels different. Perhaps because Dhillon refuses to reduce the victims to statistics. Newlyweds, parents, solo travellers—lives interrupted mid-sentence. The valley’s beauty does not soften the horror; it sharpens it. The emotion sits quietly on the page, never exploited, never dramatized, but impossible to ignore.

What follows is not a revenge story. That is one of the book’s most important interventions. Operation SINDOOR emerges not as an impulsive roar but as a calibrated response shaped by data, intelligence, and strategic patience. Dhillon walks the reader through the anatomy of decision-making under uncertainty—how intelligence is always incomplete, how political authorization is layered, how every strike sends multiple messages at once. To the adversary. To citizens. To allies. To the world.

The title itself lingers like a symbol you can’t shake. Sindoor carries memory, continuity, loss. It risks moral overreach, and Dhillon seems aware of that danger. He handles the symbolism carefully, not as justification but as context. Military action, he suggests, does not exist in a vacuum. It reverberates through homes and histories. That awareness gives the narrative its moral tension.

One of the book’s strongest sections demystifies “deep strikes.” There are no miracle metaphors here. No illusion of surgical perfection. Instead, Dhillon presents constraint as the central character. Constraint of intelligence. Of escalation thresholds. Of international optics. Reading this, I felt how impoverished public debate often is—how quickly complexity is flattened into slogans. This book insists on a slower, harder kind of thinking.

The Pakistan dimension is treated with analytical sobriety. There is no cartoon villainy. The ISI appears as a persistent, adaptive institution—dangerous, yes, but not omnipotent. This refusal to caricature strengthens the narrative’s credibility. Deterrence here is not bravado; it is a fragile balance maintained through discipline.

Emotionally, my reading experience oscillated. Admiration for the professionalism and clarity. Unease at how normalized extraordinary force can become when wrapped in strategic language. The book does not resolve this discomfort, and that is its honesty. It acknowledges that restraint and aggression are not opposites but tools on the same continuum.

There are moments where institutional logic dominates, where dissent and skepticism feel distant. Dhillon writes from authority, not neutrality. A critical reader should remain alert. Yet his repeated emphasis on civilian oversight, political hesitation, and international pressure quietly dismantles the myth of the all-powerful general. Responsibility here is shared, but accountability remains personal.

What stayed with me most was the book’s meditation on sovereignty—not just territorial, but narrative. In a world where stories travel faster than facts, Operation SINDOOR becomes an act of strategic communication. It does not tell you what to think. It shows you how difficult thinking becomes when the stakes are real.

After finishing the book, I didn’t feel triumphant. I felt aware. Aware of how narrow the margin for error is. Aware of how much unseen labour goes into preserving a brittle peace. This is not a comforting read, but it is a necessary one. If you approach it with patience, it offers something rare: a narrative that respects complexity and trusts the reader to sit with it. Pick it up not for answers, but for reflection—and see what questions it leaves behind.

[Muskan Godara · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Without fear, there can be no love”, this is an apt quote that justifies the launch of operation SINDOOR by India- Lt. Gen. K.J.S. ‘Tiny’ Dhillon (Retd) mentions in the last pages of the book.
On 22 April,2025, Pahalgam was marred by one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in the recent history. The place known as “Mini Switzerland” was lost in an instant. Its peace ripped apart by brutality, leaving behind a haunting silence and a reminder that how easily beauty can turn to horror. The attack came without warning. Innocent lives were lost. The survivors and eyewitnesses of the attack have endured physical and psychological distress. The mental shock of witnessing their family or friends being shot left lasting emotional scars.
India’s answer to this horrendous and heart-wrenching attack was “Operation SINDOOR”, a calibrated counter-strike. It was not the product of impulse, but professional, data-driven and guided by strategic patience. The author also mentioned the significance of the name “SINDOOR”. It is not just a name but a reflection of the feelings of millions of people in the country and an unbroken pledge of justice.
All we know about the operation is what happened but we are unaware of the deep knowledge of what was going on in the war room. The preparation of the strike involved many factors. It was not merely a result of some step taken in vengeance. In this book the author has provided every minute detail from the Data collection to the execution and weapons used in the operation. It is like reading a well written thesis on Operation SINDOOR. It talks about how key attributes like real-time coordination, secrecy and limited disclosure, ethical considerations and international briefings which played a crucial role in the success of this operation. To get the thorough understanding of what, why, and hows of everything related to the operation you should pick this book now.
Operation SINDOOR is not the end of India’s fight against cross-border terrorism but it is the beginning of a new ‘normal’. A continuing campaign dismantling terror infrastructure and defending its sovereignty relentlessly. It is a significant milestone in India’s counterterrorism campaign which demonstrates its improved military readiness, technological self-reliance and operational synergy across agencies.

[yoursbibliophilic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lt Gen K.J.S. Dhillon’s Operation SINDOOR is a compact and vividly written insider account of a contemporary Indian military operation that — in the author’s own framing — signals a significant turning point in New Delhi’s response to cross-border terrorism. A retired lieutenant general and former head of Defence Intelligence, Dhillon brings authority and immediacy to the narrative. His explanations of how particular targets were selected, and why certain operational choices were made, constitute some of the book’s strongest and most engaging sections.
Dhillon effectively blends operational detail with broader strategic commentary, offering rare insight into the planning, coordination, and execution of deep strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan. Interwoven with the operational narrative are reflections on India’s evolving counterterrorism doctrine, the psychological and informational dimensions of modern conflict, the growing centrality of proactive intelligence, and the delicate political–military interface that shapes decision-making during crises. Throughout, he portrays the strikes as not only a tactical achievement but also a strategic signal intended to recalibrate deterrence.

However, the book’s strengths as an insider narrative also define its limitations. Readers should not expect exhaustive investigative journalism or a multi-perspective diplomatic history. To gain a more comprehensive understanding, the account benefits from being read alongside independent reporting and external analyses.

Overall, Operation SINDOOR is an engaging and valuable read — particularly for those interested in contemporary Indian security doctrine, the operational logic of limited strikes, and the inner workings of high-level military decision-making.

[Harsh Barot · Rating 5 out of 5]

📘 Book Review: Operation Sindoor – The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan

“When every path to peace is blocked, only one road remains — war against the demons.”
This line defines the spirit of Operation Sindoor — a story born not out of aggression, but of duty, courage, and national honour.

The book takes readers inside India’s most secretive deep-strike missions across the border, where silence was the strategy and precision was the weapon. It reveals how brave hearts operate beyond limits — not for fame, but for the nation’s dignity.

Balancing fact with emotion, the author masterfully blends intelligence, sacrifice, and moral conflict, showing what it truly means to defend peace through strength.

📊 Data Review Summary:
• Theme: India’s covert operations and military courage
• Tone: Patriotic, investigative, and emotionally intense
• Focus: Deep intelligence missions, national security, and the unseen cost of peace
• Impact: Readers feel the pulse of real heroes and the power of silent victories

⸻

👉 “This is not a tale of war — it’s the untold saga of those who fight so the nation can sleep in peace.”

[Bookish Keeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping and powerful account of India’s fight against terrorism!

Operation SINDOOR is not just a book—it’s a testament to the courage, strategy, and sacrifices of our armed forces. Lt Gen. K.J.S. Dhillon (Retd) takes the reader deep inside India’s decisive military response, blending authenticity with rare insights. The detailed retelling of events, the human stories of loss and bravery, and the emphasis on unity in the face of adversity make this book both emotional and inspiring.

What stands out is the balance—hard military facts combined with reflections on peace, justice, and India’s strength as a nation. The visuals and narratives bring the reality of terrorism’s impact to life while also highlighting hope and resilience.

This book is a must-read for every Indian who wants to understand the challenges faced by our forces and the spirit with which they protect us. Highly recommended! 🇮🇳

[Sanjay Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple read on Op Sindoor. Delves upon all elements involved in the operation — sync bw all arms, intelligence gathering, planning, civilians role, battles of narratives & continued doctrinal role. Without fear there can be no love — I think that is going ultimate tool for India in dealing with Pakistan.

Yet It lacks in-depth analysis & the actual conversation in war room which happened at highest level. Was looking for this only. A good compilation of all relevant articles & narratives in public domain though.

[Rishab Pathania · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book's most compelling takeaway is the seamless synergy forged among the armed forces' diverse branches, the intelligence community, and political leadership— a harmonious collaboration that birthed the audacious success of Operation Sindoor. Kudos, too, to our air defense architecture: its multi-layered ingenuity stands as a bulwark, vigilantly safeguarding the sanctity of our skies.

[Gopinath · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book informs in a succinct manner, the events that led to the Operation Sindoor which was to be India's answer to the Pahalgam terr*r attack and details the process of how India in the hour of crisis stood up with grit and gave a befitting reply to its enemies that any attack on our soil will be met with a decisive blow that will knock you to the ground

[SHIVAKUMAR · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a lot of repetition on the content . Most of what is written was widely reported so baring a few snipers nothing out of the box that has been shared.

Good book to read though but I wished there was less repetition

[Abhilash Edakadampil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have immense respect for the man — his integrity, clarity, and the work he’s done. But as an author, this felt a little too light. It didn’t offer much beyond what anyone closely following this conflict would already know.

While the writing is accessible and well-intentioned, I found myself wanting more depth — more analysis, more insight beneath the surface. In the end, it felt timely and topical, but not transformative.

[rahul · Rating 3 out of 5]

An avg read … Recommend as a good read for people who are not aware about details of Op Sindoor…. Covered operational aspects primarily from Indian Army point of view ….

[Rupin Chaudhry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written account but often repetitive. Nevertheless it would have been a great disservice to history if this book is not read.

[Komal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

[Meenal]

DNF 56%

Cashgrab scheme that's repeating news articles