New Delhi: Renowned international analysts such as Tom Cooper, John Spencer and Jennifer Zeng have provided detailed assessments of India's performance during this conflict, highlighting the strategic and tactical elements that contributed to India's success.
Austrian military historian Tom Cooper characterised India's air campaign as a "clear-cut victory." Cooper noted that Pakistan's inability to mount a credible response underscored the effectiveness of India's strategy. Cooper further supports this by noting the failure of Pakistan's deterrence strategy. Pakistan's reliance on threats of retaliation and nuclear escalation "failed" because India proceeded to strike back and even escalated in response to Pakistan's actions.
He also points out that the fighting ceased because Islamabad, Pakistan, initiated contact to sound for a "ceasefire" after suffering heavy losses. He suggests that Pakistan's decision to halt operations was likely influenced by insufficient stocks of effective ammunition, such as attack UAVs.
John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, lauded India's approach as a demonstration of strategic restraint and assertiveness.
He highlighted that Operation Sindoor redefined India's red lines, treating terror attacks from Pakistani territory as acts of war. Spencer remarked, "India struck back harder, but stopped short of general war. That is textbook deterrence: calibrated, controlled, and credible."
Spencer views this as the application of "decisive power, clearly applied", not just symbolic force.
