- Armed Forces honoured for decisive role in Operation Sindoor
- Precision strikes hit terror hubs in Pakistan after Pahalgam attack
- Indigenous air defence systems neutralised drones and missiles
- Jointness among three services credited for operational success
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Dec: Following a high-impact display of valour, coordination and precision during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces have been named NDTV’s Indian of the Year for 2025, recognising their decisive role in safeguarding national security.
Operation Sindoor was launched in May as a response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians were killed. The Indian Armed Forces carried out calibrated strikes on terror infrastructure at nine locations in Pakistan, including Lashkar-e-Taiba’s headquarters in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed’s base in Bahawalpur.
Pakistan retaliated by launching drones and missiles towards Indian military installations and civilian areas over three consecutive days. These attempts were effectively thwarted by India’s air defence systems. In response, Indian forces neutralised key Pakistani air defence assets, including installations in Lahore, and struck major military bases such as the strategically important Nur Khan (Chaklala) airbase.
Following the escalation, Pakistan sought a ceasefire, and India agreed to a pause in hostilities.
At the NDTV Indian of the Year ceremony, the honour was received by senior officers and decorated personnel, including Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, along with several gallantry award recipients from the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Air Marshal Dixit highlighted that Operation Sindoor reflected the growing jointness among the three services, strengthened after the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff. He noted that coordination, communication and escalation control were key to the operation’s success. He also underlined India’s progress in defence self-reliance, particularly in air defence systems and missile capabilities.
Colonel Koshank Lamba, a Vir Chakra awardee, recalled the moments before the operation began, describing an atmosphere of calm confidence among the troops. “There was no fear—only determination and fire. That was the fire we unleashed,” he said.
The recognition underlines the Armed Forces’ operational preparedness, technological capability and unified command structure, reaffirming their central role in protecting India’s sovereignty amid evolving security challenges.
