John Spencer, an award-winning scholar, combat veteran and military analyst on Wednesday praised Operation Sindoor, calling it “India’s massive victory.” He appreciated the calibrated military action taken by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. Spencer lauded Operation Sindoor for achieving its strategic aims, which was to destroy terrorist infrastructure. Notably, the Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7 and destroyed 9 terror bases in Pakistan and PoK, specifically associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. In his first address to the nation, Prime Minister Narenda Modi declared Operation Sindoor as India’s established policy in the fight against terrorism and a new normal in counter-terrorism measure.
Spencer Commends ‘Operation Sindoor’
Spencer in an X, post commended the operation, and termed it as a “New National Security Doctrine.” He wrote, “After just four days of calibrated military action, it is objectively conclusive: India achieved a massive victory.”
He highlighted that India demonstrated military superiority and restored deterrence. “Operation Sindoor met and exceeded its strategic aims—destroying terrorist infrastructure, demonstrating military superiority, restoring deterrence, and unveiling a new national security doctrine. This was not symbolic force. It was decisive power, clearly applied,” Spencer added in his post.
Strategic Hold
In a separate post, Spencer talked about the ceasefire and called it a strategic hold following a rare and unambiguous military victory. He emphasised that India has not declared that the Operation Sindoor is completely over.
“India has not declared Operation Sindoor completely over. What exists now is a sensitive halt in operations—some may call it a ceasefire, but military leaders have deliberately avoided that word. From a warfighting perspective, this is not merely a pause; it is a strategic hold following a rare and unambiguous military victory,” wrote Spencer.
Furthermore, he shed light on Pahalgam terror attack and called it a massacre in which 26 civilians, mostly Hindus were killed.
“India was attacked. On April 22, 2025, 26 Indian civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, were massacred in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility. As has been the case for decades, the group is backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI),” added Spencer.
India Didn’t Wait
Adding further, he wrote about India’s response to the terrorist attack by deploying warplanes. He mentioned that this time India neither waited to strike back nor appealed for an international mediation.
Spencer wrote, “But unlike previous attacks, this time India didn’t wait. It didn’t appeal for international mediation or issue a diplomatic demarche. It launched warplanes. On May 7, India initiated Operation Sindoor, a swift and precisely calibrated military campaign. The Indian Air Force struck nine terrorist infrastructure targets inside Pakistan, including headquarters and operational hubs for Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The message was clear: terror attacks launched from Pakistani soil will now be treated as acts of war.”
Quoting statement from PM Modi’s first address on Operation Sindoor, he called the response as “New and strategic doctrine.”
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the new doctrine unmistakable: “India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail. More than a retaliation, this was the unveiling of a strategic doctrine. As Modi said, “Terror and talks can’t go together. Water and blood can’t flow together.” Added Spencer.
"After just four days of calibrated military action, it is objectively conclusive: India achieved a massive victory. Operation Sindoor met and exceeded its strategic aims—destroying terrorist infrastructure, demonstrating military superiority, restoring deterrence, and unveiling… https://t.co/YvxCjaJJRs
— John Spencer (@SpencerGuard) May 14, 2025
Who Is John Spencer?
John Spencer is an author, combat veteran, national security and military analyst, and internationally recognised expert and advisor on urban warfare, military strategy, tactics, and other related topics. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Urban Warfare Institute.
