Tactical Readiness in a Compressed Escalation Era: Lessons from Operation Sindoor for India’s Western Front
1. Introduction Tactical readiness in a compressed escalation environment was tested sharply during Operation Sindoor, when India had only a limited mobilisation-to-preparation window between the Pahalgam attack and the opening of hostilities. At 1.05 in the morning on 7 May 2025, missiles and loitering munitions began hitting nine sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Fifteen…