India’s Triple Strike Doctrine Unfolds: Military, Diplomacy, and Now Sanctions Against Terror State Pakistan

India’s response to terrorism has entered a new and important phase with the introduction of economic sanctions targeting Pakistan. This move is part of Operation Sindoor, which consists of three key parts: military action, diplomatic outreach, and now economic measures. The third part—imposing trade restrictions, visa limitations, and controls on water resources—is aimed at pressuring Pakistan to stop supporting terror groups

Operation Sindoor’s Three-Part Strategy

Operation Sindoor began with military strikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan after attacks on Indian soil. These strikes showed India’s strong stance against terrorism. But military action was only the first step.

The second step involved diplomatic efforts. BJP MP Baijayant Panda led a multi-party delegation that visited Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria to explain India’s right to defend itself and to build support among these countries, many of which have also faced terror threats. This diplomatic outreach was important to clarify India’s position and counter statements issued by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which had criticized the response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The third and newest part of Operation Sindoor focuses on economic sanctions against Pakistan. These sanctions aim to pressure Pakistan into changing its behavior by restricting business, travel, and other exchanges.

What Do These Economic Sanctions Include?

The economic sanctions involve limits on visas, trade, shipping, and water sharing. Specifically:

• Visa restrictions reduce the movement of people between Pakistan and India, helping to block potential terror-related activities.
• Trade and shipping controls affect how goods and materials move across borders, signaling serious consequences for Pakistan if it continues to support terrorism.
• Water-sharing issues address the management of shared rivers and water resources, which are vital for both countries but can also be a point of tension.

Baijayant Panda explained that these sanctions are not permanent bans. Instead, they are “put in abeyance”—temporary but ready to be enforced more strongly if needed. The idea is to nudge Pakistan in the right direction and show that India means business.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has played a consistent role over the last decade in building relationships with countries visited by the delegation. His outreach has earned respect, including civilian honors from some of these nations, which helped support India’s case.

Diplomatic Outreach and Global Reactions

Baijayant Panda said the delegation received positive feedback from the countries they visited. Although these countries are part of the OIC, which had previously issued statements critical of India, they understood India’s dilemma and supported its right to defend itself against terror attacks.

The delegation also highlighted how these countries have suffered from groups like ISIS and were embarrassed by Pakistan’s role in hiding Osama bin Laden. This comparison helped build empathy and support.

During the diplomatic talks, questions were raised about India’s treatment of minorities, its stance on Palestine, and relations with Israel. The delegation, made up of members from different regions, languages, religions, and political parties—including senior politician Ghulam Nabi Azad—showed the unity and diversity of the country. They stressed India’s support for a two-state solution in Palestine and mentioned India’s financial aid for relief in Gaza and the West Bank.

The delegation called it “bizarre” that Pakistan was recently appointed as vice-chair of a United Nations committee on counter-terrorism. They criticized the UN for being outdated and not reflecting the current world order, noting that India, the world’s largest democracy and fourth largest economy, is still not a permanent member of the UN Security Council.