By Kavita Mistry 
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has extended strong support to the government and armed forces following the high-intensity cross-border strikes codenamed Operation Sindoor, praising both the operation, its name and image.
Responding to a post on X that speculated on a possible acronym for the operation, Tharoor wrote, “Clever, esp given the government’s penchant for creative acronyms! But jokes apart, #OperationSindoor is a brilliant name. It evokes the image, seared into our national consciousness, of the newly-widowed bride, kneeling and weeping by the side of her assassinated husband of six days in Pahalgam – the entire reason why Operation #Sindoor was necessary. The fact that sindoor is blood red also sends a telling message. Shabash to whoever thought of it!”
The post he was responding to claimed, “From a senior journalist who does not wish to be identified: I could have sworn ‘Sindoor’ stands for Strategic Initiative for Neutralizing Destructive Opponents with Overwhelming Retaliation.”
The strikes, launched on Wednesday around 2 am, targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in a swift, 25-minute blitz. According to Indian military officials, the strikes were the most expansive cross-border operation since Balakot, involving air, naval, and ground-based assets.
The strikes were carried out in retaliation to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead. The government stated the operation was executed with precision under the cover of darkness and with a focus on non-escalation.
Speaking to India Today TV earlier, Shashi Tharoor was all praise about the government’s handling of strikes on terror camps. He said, “Even the name Operation Sindoor, such an evocative, emotive name, well chosen.”
While Islamabad confirmed the casualties- 26 dead and 46 injured – Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as a “blatant act of war” and warned of a “befitting reply”.
India, however, maintained that only terror hideouts were targeted. “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature… India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution,” the government said in a statement.