Operation Sindoor, Day 3 | Indian Army far more astute than Pak forces: Military experts

In this episode of Capital Beat, hosted by Neelu Vyas, the panel brought together Brigadier Ajit Apte (Retd) and Rear Admiral Suresh Grewal (Retd) to discuss the rapidly escalating India-Pakistan tensions following the latest military exchanges. With mounting anxiety, misinformation, and questions about the next phase, the panel explored whether this conflict is heading towards a full-scale war or can still be contained.

Initial strikes and escalation

Apte opened by outlining India’s measured military response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack. He explained that India selected nine out of 21 identified terrorist targets across the Line of Control (LoC) and international border, focusing solely on terror infrastructure and using stand-off delivery systems like aerial-to-ground missiles and artillery where necessary.

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“We carried out a proper analysis and hit where it was needed, not beyond,” Apte emphasised. He noted that India had anticipated retaliation from Pakistan but was surprised by the intensity. According to Apte, the Pakistan military's response on May 7-8, including multi-pronged drone and missile attacks, exceeded India’s expected retaliation level.

Civilian panic and misinformation

Grewal weighed in on the growing civilian panic, fuelled by widespread misinformation and sensationalist media coverage. “Civilian population panics due to gossip and rumors, and media channels can unintentionally add to that,” Grewal warned. He stressed the need for official briefings and responsible media reporting, noting that civil defence systems are designed to prevent such public anxiety.

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Grewal underscored that the situation, while serious, remains at a "less than war" stage and can be tackled by civil authorities with clear, calm advisories. He pointed out that public trust hinges on factual, verified information rather than dramatic or speculative media narratives.

Media's role and ethical reporting

The panel discussed the ethical obligations of media outlets during military escalations. Grewal highlighted the need for the media to avoid warmongering and prioritise credibility by verifying facts before reporting. “If you keep telling lies, you lose credibility,” he said, emphasising that emotionally charged reporting can unnecessarily inflame public sentiment and worsen the situation.

Pakistan's reactive strategy

Turning to Pakistan's response, Apte described their recent attacks as reactive, impulsive, and lacking the calculated targeting seen in India's approach. “They are behaving like a child gone amok,” he remarked, contrasting India’s careful analysis with Pakistan's random selection of targets, which included a wide area from Srinagar and Jammu to Hoshiarpur and Pathankot.

Apte praised India’s air defence systems, particularly the integration of Army and Air Force capabilities, which successfully neutralised over 90 per cent of incoming threats. “Our professionalism and current-generation systems have proved top class,” he said, noting that Pakistan's defence systems have not matched India’s strike precision.

Urban centres and future escalation

Addressing fears of potential strikes on Indian urban centres, Grewal and Apte agreed that targeting civilian populations would significantly escalate the conflict. Apte cautioned that deliberate attacks on cities could invite overwhelming reprisal strikes from India, making it a dangerous threshold for Pakistan to cross.

Looking ahead, Apte warned, “If the scale and magnitude of further responses increase, we will have to rethink our strategy.” Grewal added that while the Indian armed forces are on high alert, the situation has not yet reached the threshold of a full-scale war.

The way forward

In closing remarks, the panelists highlighted that India had intentionally left diplomatic windows open by limiting its strikes to terrorist targets, not government or civilian infrastructure. However, Pakistan's internal military-terrorist nexus, evidenced by top-level figures attending terrorist funerals, complicates the situation.

Both panelists agreed that the conflict remains in a fragile state where responsible leadership, clear communication, and calculated military planning are crucial. As Vyas summed up, citizens must stay vigilant, rely on official sources, and avoid falling for rumour-fuelled panic.

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