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In a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, India executed "Operation Sindoor" in the early hours of May 7, 2025. The tri-service operation involved precision strikes on nine terrorist targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), specifically targeting infrastructure linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the operation throughout the night, with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval briefing US officials immediately afterward.

The carefully calibrated strikes deliberately avoided Pakistani military installations, demonstrating what Indian officials called "considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution." Among the locations hit were Bahawalpur (JeM headquarters), Muridke (LeT headquarters), Kotli, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, Gulpur, Bhimber, Chak Amru, and Bagh. The operation employed specialized precision munitions in a coordinated assault by Army, Navy, and Air Force assets.5 Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as "an act of war," vowing that Pakistan "has every right to respond forcefully."

Despite his "America First" rhetoric, Donald Trump's foreign policy approach is better characterized as selective engagement rather than pure isolationism. While he has expressed aversion to military interventions, particularly those involving "regime change" and "nation-building", his administration has demonstrated willingness to use force when deemed necessary, as evidenced by missile strikes against Syrian forces in 2018 and continued military operations against ISIS.

Trump's approach combines both isolationist and interventionist tendencies depending on the situation. He has consistently criticized America's role as the "underwriter of the global order" and favors bilateral deal-making over multilateral engagement. This selective engagement strategy stands in contrast to the liberal internationalism of previous administrations, with Trump preferring unilateral military and economic actions to defend American interests rather than allied endeavors. His unpredictable stance on foreign policy matters, particularly regarding China, has created uncertainty among allies in regions like Southeast Asia, who worry about both potential escalation and possible grand bargains that might leave them vulnerable.

Phalgam Attack Background:

On April 22, 2025, five armed militants carried out a targeted attack on tourists in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, killing 28 civilians in what became India's deadliest attack on civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The attackers, armed with AK-47s and M4 carbines, specifically targeted Hindu and Christian male tourists after asking for their names and religions, while sparing women to "narrate the incident" to Indian Prime Minister Modi.

The militants employed religious tests to identify victims, forcing some to recite the Islamic kalima (declaration of faith) and checking others for circumcision before executing them at point-blank range. Among the victims were several newlywed couples, including Indian Navy lieutenant Vinay Narwal and Shubham Dwivedi from Kanpur, whose husbands were killed in front of their wives. The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility before retracting their statement four days later. Investigations revealed that the attack was likely planned a month in advance with help from local sleeper cells who provided intelligence on security arrangements in the area.

Produced By: Cyborg Wealth

Researched By: Malik Rafaiy