Sindoor and the Symbolism of Strength: Gender, Identity, and Strategic Narrative in the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict (Indian Perspective)

We are delighted to present this thoughtful analysis by Akrti Tyagi, examining the intersection of cultural symbolism and military strategy in South Asia. Tyagi's exploration of India's 2025 counter-terrorism operation offers readers a unique perspective on how nations craft narratives during times of conflict.

In "Sindoor and the Symbolism of Strength," Tyagi provides a compelling investigation of how Operation Sindoor employed traditional cultural imagery while highlighting institutional progress through the prominent roles of female military leaders. The article goes beyond tactical considerations to examine how India constructed a sophisticated narrative targeting both domestic constituencies and the international community.

As South Asia continues to navigate complex security challenges, Tyagi's analysis illuminates the evolving nature of strategic communication in modern conflicts. We hope this piece encourages readers to reflect on how cultural symbols and representation shape our understanding of international relations and security operations.

Since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947, India and Pakistan have endured a complex and often adversarial relationship. Recently, in April 2025, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. Reports indicated that the victims were targeted based on religious identity, an event that generated significant public and political response across India (The Hindu, 2025). In the aftermath, India launched Operation Sindoor, a targeted counter-terrorism operation focused on dismantling militant infrastructure along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between Indian and Pakistani-administered territories.

The operation was notable not only for its military objectives but also for the symbolic framework through which it was communicated. The term sindoor; a red powder traditionally worn by married Hindu women as a symbol of marital commitment and protection, introduced a gendered and cultural dimension to India’s strategic narrative. Additionally, the prominence of two senior female officers in the operation’s public communication marked a shift in the gender dynamics of Indian military leadership. Together, these elements formed a unique intersection of national security, cultural symbolism, and gender representation within the framework of international relations.

Operation Sindoor: Strategic Objectives and Military Context

Operation Sindoor was formally announced by Indian authorities as a limited and precision-based counter-terrorism initiative, aimed at neutralising groups responsible for the Pahalgam attack. Conducted along targeted zones of the LoC, the operation sought to avoid broader military escalation with Pakistan, instead emphasising tactical restraint and adherence to international norms concerning proportionality and sovereignty (Ministry of External Affairs (India), 2025).

India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that the operation was consistent with international law and driven by the imperative to disrupt cross-border terrorism. The Indian delegation to the United Nations highlighted that the action was intended to deter future attacks and ensure regional stability without altering the territorial status quo.

The Symbolism of “Sindoor” and its Strategic Implications

The nomenclature of the operation drew immediate attention. Sindoor is a cultural symbol in many parts of India, particularly among Hindu women, where it signifies marital status, continuity, and protection. By naming the operation after such a symbol, the Indian state invoked a narrative of safeguarding not only territorial borders but societal values under perceived threat.

This choice marked a departure from conventional military operation names, which are often either neutral or mythological in tone. Analysts noted that the naming served multiple functions: it grounded the operation in culturally familiar language, reinforced the narrative of a protective rather than aggressive stance, and attempted to build a unifying domestic message.

However, the symbolism also prompted scrutiny. In a pluralistic and secular democracy, the invocation of a culturally specific symbol for a state military operation was seen by some observers as potentially exclusionary. Public commentary highlighted the importance of maintaining inclusivity in national narratives during conflict situations, especially in societies with religious and ethnic diversity (Global Voices, 2025). Government spokespeople responded by framing the term as metaphorical, intended to represent collective resilience rather than a religious identity.

This form of narrative construction aligns with the concept of strategic narrative in international relations, as defined by Miskimmon, O’Loughlin, and Roselle (2013). Strategic narratives are tools states use to shape perceptions, maintain legitimacy, and explain the rationale behind foreign policy decisions. Operation Sindoor demonstrates how such narratives can be formed not only through policy but through symbolic language and culturally embedded references.

Gender Representation and Institutional Developments

A further dimension of the operation’s strategic communication was the prominent role of women in its public interface. Colonel Sofia Qureshi (Indian Army) and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh (Indian Air Force) were key figures during the operation, participating in national briefings and serving as operational leads.

Their leadership coincided with institutional reforms aimed at increasing gender parity in India’s armed forces. A landmark 2021 Supreme Court ruling had allowed women to enrol in the National Defence Academy (NDA) for the first time, thereby granting them access to career pathways historically reserved for men (The Indian Express, 2025). By 2025, the first group of women had graduated from the NDA and were actively serving in more equal capacities.

The presence of female officers in a high-profile operation reflected broader trends in civil-military relations and gender mainstreaming in national security institutions. From a policy perspective, it aligned with India’s commitments to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which encourages the increased participation of women in all aspects of conflict prevention and resolution.

Nevertheless, critical commentary from gender policy scholars noted the importance of ensuring that visibility translates into structural change. As highlighted in the works of Enloe (2000), symbolic inclusion an risk masking persistent institutional disparities unless accompanied by substantive policy reforms. The Indian government has since reiterated its commitment to expanding women’s roles in both combat and leadership across all military branches.

International Reception and Diplomatic Framing

Operation Sindoor was accompanied by a measured international communication strategy. India briefed key diplomatic partners and reiterated its commitment to regional peace and the avoidance of escalation. Public statements at the United Nations positioned the operation as a legitimate self-defence response to a terror attack, drawing on language consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The operation received broad regional and international attention, with analysts highlighting India’s dual approach: combining conventional military action with soft power narratives. Media coverage in various countries focused on the symbolic naming and the role of female officers, prompting discussions on the evolving nature of state responses to security threats in culturally diverse societies.

Scholars of international relations noted the strategic use of symbolism as a method of soft power, defined by Joseph Nye (2004) as the ability to influence others through attraction and narrative coherence, rather than coercion. By incorporating cultural and gender symbolism, India presented itself as a modern state rooted in tradition yet capable of institutional evolution.

Strategic Narratives in Contemporary Conflict

Operation Sindoor highlights how military operations today are no longer solely assessed based on battlefield outcomes, but also on how they are framed and communicated. The integration of gender, identity, and symbolism into India’s national security discourse reflects an expanded understanding of strategic legitimacy.

Strategic narrative theory suggests that public support and international perception are shaped not only by what states do, but by how they explain what they do, and who they include in that explanation. Through the symbolic framing of sindoor, and through the operational visibility of women leaders, India offered a multidimensional account of its security posture in 2025: culturally rooted, institutionally evolving, and diplomatically engaged.

Conclusion

Operation Sindoor marked a complex and multi-layered moment in India’s approach to national security and international diplomacy. Militarily, it reflected a restrained and targeted counter-terrorism strategy. Symbolically, it drew from cultural language to frame state protection in terms of continuity and care. Institutionally, it brought into focus the growing participation of women in security leadership, reinforcing recent policy reforms.

Together, these elements positioned India not only as a state capable of tactical precision, but as one increasingly adept at crafting strategic narratives that resonate with both domestic and international audiences. As conflict environments evolve, so too does the importance of communication, inclusion, and symbolism in shaping legitimacy on the global stage.

Content moderator: Brianna Delahunty