Families of Pahalgam Victims Praise India’s Operation Sindoor

In the wake of India’s military response to the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, families of the victims have expressed support for the retaliatory strikes conducted under Operation Sindoor. The operation, executed in the early hours of May 7, 2025, targeted nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as confirmed by the Indian Armed Forces.

Aarthi Menon, daughter of victim N Ramachandran, conveyed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decisive action. “This brings comfort amidst our grief,” she said, emphasizing pride in the military’s response. Similarly, Asawari Jagdale, whose father and uncle were killed in the attack, told that the operation’s name, Sindoor, was fitting. The term, symbolizing the vermillion worn by married Hindu women, resonates deeply, as many victims were men killed in front of their wives. Jagdale, who witnessed the tragedy in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, expressed hope that the strikes would deter future attacks, stating, “I hope Pakistan has learned its lesson.”

Another family member, speaking anonymously , described the operation as a necessary message to adversaries, applauding the military’s precision. The strikes, which avoided Pakistani civilian and military targets, were described by India’s Ministry of Defence as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory.” The operation has drawn widespread domestic support, with families echoing a shared sentiment of justice for the Pahalgam victims.