A Teen's Wakeup Call

I’m not a soldier, and I’m not a minister. I’m just a young girl. A girl shaped by the echoes of the word "terrorism" her entire life, a teenager who had scrolled past too many heartbreaking headlines screaming “Terror Attack in Kashmir." We used to talk of terrorism like it was background noise – in our classrooms, in our homes – something tragic, yet something distant. We’d dismiss it as something too “complex for our understanding, " hoping that diplomacy, silence, and peace would inevitably prevail.

Then came along April 22nd, 2025. Twenty-six lives- laborers, farmers, even tourists- were killed in cold blood, in the name of a targeted attack of terror. Most were comprised of Hindu residents and workers. Stripped of mercy, some were merely sitting under a tree having a picnic with their family, while others were taking photos of the beautiful sights around them. No one had expected to die that night.

But this time, it hadn’t been complicated, no belief in diplomacy or nuances – because this time there was no gray area. It had been terrorism- delivered to innocent lives with intent, driven with hate. This time it wasn’t just an attack. It was a consequence of inaction – the silence that we had dressed up as strategy. However, silence at that moment would have merely been a surrender, almost like watching Pahalgam engulfed in the flames of the pain inflicted upon our nation, and doing nothing but just picking up the ashes.

Instead, India chose to put its foot down, to honor the innocent blood of the lives lost through Operation Sindoor, a precise military strike on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. It was a brilliant act of discipline: controlled, calculated, and strategic. The name ‘Sindoor’ wasn’t random it symbolized sacrifice, protection, and duty. Just as Sindoor is a sacred mark worn with pride, this operation marked India’s commitment to defend its people with both strength and restraint. However, at first, India responded not with missiles, but with economic and diplomatic pressure. Trade ties were severed. Cross-border projects were paused. And most notably, India revoked water-sharing under the Indus Waters Treaty, cutting off a portion of the water supply flowing into Pakistan — a peaceful assertion of sovereignty. These steps painted an image of peace, leading Pakistan to believe that India, once again, would stop at sanctions, statements, and mere gestures.

But that was the brilliance of the setup. India let Pakistan believe what it wanted to believe. And while diplomatic circles debated the economic fallout, India quietly prepared for something else entirely. India struck precisely where the ideology of terror was nurtured, leaving no room for ambiguity. No civilian structures were touched. It was this restraint that revealed its strength, targeting the nine camps that were recognized as terrorist harboring locations. The message was exactly this: A country can be decisive, but using our good judgement, we can be prudent too. Just as important is the means we used to do so. Drones, loitering munitions, long-range missiles, and live feed ensured that strikes were precise, effective, and low collateral. It is not to escalate a conflict; it is to restore harmony within our state. India, on the international stage, tagline the action measured, justified, and lawful under self-defense.

Elena Varga, a senior policy analyst from the European Centre for Counterterrorism Studies, stated, “India’s response demonstrated how a modern democracy can uphold international law while firmly defending its citizens from non-state threats.”

Soon, in the aftermath, Pakistan rushed to social media, attempting to twist the narrative, calling the strike unprovoked, exaggerating civilian damage, and fueling misinformation. But as it goes, truth does not bend to propaganda. India’s actions were rooted in evidence. While Pakistan played optics, India chose outcomes, dismantling terror, not defending hashtags and internet posts. Operation Sindoor wasn’t a show of power; it was a statement of principle. And perhaps the name says it all. Sindoor — the red symbol of sacrifice, of strength, of sacred duty. As a teenage girl, I’d only seen it on my mother’s forehead. But on May 7th, my country wore it with pride and purpose.