Operation Sindoor–A Soldier's Pledge on Injustice.

"Horrific Attack in Pahalgam: 26 Tourists Killed, Nation Stunned!!"

​Srinagar, April 22, 2025: A tragic and unprecedented terrorist attack occurred in the picturesque Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the brutal killing of 26 tourists and injuring nearly 20 others. The terrorists indiscriminately shot the tourists after asking them their religion. This barbaric attack has dealt a severe blow to the tourism industry in the Kashmir Valley and has created fresh concerns regarding the nation's security system. Security forces quickly reached the spot and launched a massive search operation to apprehend the attackers. The government has strongly condemned the attack and promised strict action against those involved.
              
                        _______

​Balbir Singh was posted in Jaipur about fifteen days ago, and he is currently staying with his unmarried sister, Fiza, and his daughter, Ishaani, at the Soldier’s Rest House. Ishaani completed her Higher Secondary exams on April 4th, and since then, she has been tirelessly preparing day and night for the NDA and SSW interviews, which are scheduled for September. She has always aspired to work for the Indian Air Force, an ambition that grew stronger after receiving a 'Bravery Award' when she was in class 11. Ishaani dedicated that award to her mother. Her mother passed away from Melanoma cancer when Ishaani was in fifth grade, and she has been raised by Fiza since then. Tears often well up in her eyes when she remembers her mother.
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April 23, 2025:

​Since yesterday evening, Balbir's family has been distraught by the news of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, shown on television. This horrific attack raised sharp questions about the responsibility of the security forces. However, few ever consider whether the security personnel are being correctly deployed. The images of those innocent people kept floating in Ishaani's mind. What kind of justice is this from God? They had to die just because they were Sanatanis ! But now she knows well that her father has a great responsibility, especially to ensure that those terrorists face appropriate retribution to secure justice for the innocent victims.

​April 26, 2025:

​The following few days passed in submerged tension for Ishaani and her family. Opening the phone brought floods of notifications on Facebook and WhatsApp carrying incorrect information about the 'Pahalgam Attack'. Balbir, too, had to spend most of his time inspecting the Jaipur Army Camp for 'Mock-drill' instructions, often attending meetings involving confidential military planning. Recently, it was learned that a newly pregnant woman named Kumkum Agrawal and her mother-in-law live in Malviyanagar, Jaipur. Kumkum's husband was killed in Pahalgam. They had gone there on a trip, and they had been married for less than a year.
​Today, Balbir and Ishaani were scheduled to visit their home along with the Inspector General (I.G). When the three of them reached Kumkum's house, it was one o'clock in the afternoon, and the intense heat of the sun was slowly draining their energy. The exterior of the single-story house was quite simple, with patches of white plaster peeling off. As they rang the doorbell, an elderly woman opened the door. Her face bore a mixture of intense sorrow and resentment. She was probably the mother of the deceased.
​Balbir: "We have come to speak with your daughter-in-law."
​Before the woman could say anything, a hoarse feminine voice was heard from inside the room: "Let them come in."
​The elderly woman reluctantly seated them in the inner room. A broken-hearted, freshly widowed young woman, around 28-29, sat on the bed. Dark circles under her eyes, as if a tragic event had stolen her youth. She was clutching her husband's red shirt with both hands.
​The young woman, in the same tone, started speaking with intense hatred and sarcasm: "You call yourselves the security forces, is this the extent of your security? How did five terrorists manage to attack people with arms in broad daylight despite all the patrolling! And people still say Jammu and Kashmir is 'safe'. You were just relaxing instead of doing your duty!"
​Ishaani felt a surge of anger, yet she controlled herself and said: "I know this incident is extremely tragic, but you cannot blame the security guards for it. They are not omniscient, and secondly, they were not properly recruited in that area. The army works day and night for the security of the country and for us. They guard the borders, maintain peace within the country, and help common people during natural disasters. We should be grateful for their sacrifice. Ordinary people will not understand their pain; only a family truly experiences how much it hurts when a loved one falls in the lap of death fighting for the nation. Immediately after the 'Pahalgam' attack, news of clashes and gun battles with terrorists was received. In one such encounter in the Basantgarh area, one Indian soldier was killed and two were injured, with others having fled to the upper reaches of the Pir Panjal mountain range,Indian forces are not astrologers..."
​The I.G. subtly signalled Ishaani to stop, cleared his throat, and said: "Sorry, Mrs. Agrawal, please don't mind her words. Since you are from this region, we wanted to offer some help..."
​"If you want to help, can you bring my husband back to me? Can you?"
​Tears streamed down Kumkum's eyes. Then she gave a bitter laugh and said: "You can't! I am capable of raising my child alone; Rajput blood is floating in my body, I haven't learned to give up. But I have one request for you all: can you bring me the heads of those devils who snatched the vermilion from women like me? Can you kill them? We only want justice, nothing else."
​Balbir: "We will do so soon."

​Ishaani felt suffocated by the intense melancholy in Kumkum's house. Both Balbir and Ishaani were utterly devastated. The handsome face of the deceased kept flashing before them. How old could he have been? Thirty-one or thirty-two. He was also an Indian Navy officer
​While having evening tea, Ishaani asked Balbir: "Did the terrorists kill them just because they were Hindu?"
​"The true religion of man is humanity, humaneness. Today, the terrorists who killed them have no religion at all."
​"What joy did the terrorists get from attacking Pahalgam?"
​"Actually, the army quarters in Jammu and Kashmir maintain extremely high levels of security to protect personnel and their families. This attack was carried out to oppose the settlement of non-locals in the region following the abrogation of Kashmir's special status, and the paramount reason was to bring the Kashmir issue back to the centre of diplomacy."
​"What is your mission?"
​"I think we will soon be called to go to Jammu and Kashmir, and then, war," he sighed deeply. "But don't worry, your aunt Fiza is here... But yes, once I am there, don't call me. I will call or text if necessary. Is it okay?"
​Ishaani's eyes welled up.

​May 8, 2025:

​Ishaani hadn't slept properly last night, worrying about her father. According to the planning, their mission must have taken place during the night. However, her father had informed her that they were slowly stepping towards the pinnacle of success.
​When Ishaani opened the newspaper this morning, her heart found peace. God had answered their prayers. The headline on the front page read in bold letters:
​'Fierce Response to Pahalgam Attack: Operation Sindoor!'

'​The Indian Armed Forces and Air Force launched precise strikes against terrorist establishments in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The security forces targeted nine locations in this operation. Over 100 terrorists were killed.'
​The very next page showed a picture of two uniformed women with the caption below:
​'Wing Commander Byomika Singh and Colonel Sofia Qureshi were briefing the public on 'Operation Sindoor'. Their leadership highlights the involvement of women in high-level military operations and their role in relaying crucial information to the public. Furthermore, Sofia Qureshi is notable as the first woman to lead an Indian contingent in a U.N. peacekeeping mission.'

​Ishaani thought: 'On one side, terrorists snatched the vermilion from women, taking everything from them. On the other side, the devils were slain by the righteous wrath of a few women. Today, the desire for revenge of the victims' families has been fulfilled.'
 She then went into her room to prepare for the NDA, because when she grows up, she too will fight for the country and its people. From today onwards, India is her mother.
​A message popped up on her phone from her father: "Our plan is successful. I will return to you soon. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat."