Op. Sindoor 2.0: India-Pakistan Showdown Brewing? Will Delhi Blast Trigger Another Clash Between Nuclear Neighbors?

By
Sumit Ahlawat
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It looks like a terror attack on the Indian capital, New Delhi, though the investigation is ongoing and an official statement is awaited. If a terror attack is confirmed, will India respond with Operation Sindoor 2.0?

Preparations for the next round of the India-Pakistan war had been going on full throttle since an abrupt ceasefire was declared on May 10, following four days of military confrontation that involved the largest aerial battle between the two countries since 1971, and both sides launching missiles and drones at each other.

In that larger scheme of things, the blast near the Red Fort – whether or not it is deemed to be a terror incident – is only a side-show. The battle lines between the two nuclear-armed countries have already been drawn. The only real question is who will fire the first shot?

And it does not take a genius or a highly placed government or military source to see the writing on the wall. The ominous signs of the next round of hostilities between the two are there for everyone to see.

In fact, only a cursory recounting of the military developments since May this year will make it evident that both countries are walking on a sure path to war, whether it is the repeated military drills, the frequent weapons tests, the frequent declarations of NOTAMs, or the statements coming from both the army and civilian leadership.

Not to forget the reactivation of terror infrastructure in Pakistan with full military and state support.

India’s Non-Stop Military Drills Since Op. Sindoor

Even though India halted its military action against Pakistan on the evening of May 10, following the declaration of a ceasefire, the Indian armed forces have maintained a state of constant alert and mobilization ever since.

Believe it or not, in the six months since Operation Sindoor, India has participated in 20 war drills, averaging over 3 per month, or 1 every 10 days. Many of these were multilateral or bilateral war games scheduled months in advance; however, many were planned in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, keeping the changed circumstances in mind.

In fact, the first war drill began just a fortnight after the May 10 ceasefire. On May 26, the Indian Air Force’s Garud Commandos and U.S. Special Operations Forces participated in Exercise Tiger Claw (May 26 – June 10, 2025) at the Chandigarh Air Base.

This was followed by Nomadic Elephant XV (May 31 – June 13, 2025), an India-Mongolia bilateral war drill held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

This was followed by Exercise Shakti (June 18 – July 1, 2025) with France, SIMBEX 2025 (July 28 – August 1, 2025) joint maritime war drills with Singapore, SLINEX 2025 (August 14 – 18, 2025) with the Sri Lankan Navy, and Mitra Shakti (August 12 – 25, 2025) with the Sri Lankan Army.

In September, India participated in Bright Star 2025, its first participation in the U.S.-led multilateral tri-service exercise in Alexandria, Egypt, alongside the armies of 43 countries, which involved live-fire drills and air-ground integration.

Notably, India deployed its Su-30 fighter jets for the drills.

Besides, India also participated in Exercise Maitree XIV (September 1 – 14, 2025) with Thailand, Yudh Abhyas 2025 (September 1 – 14, 2025) with the US Army in Alaska to practice high-altitude warfare, Zapad 2025 (September 10 – 16, 2025) in Belarus, Konkan 2025 with the UK Navy that involved Su-30MKI jets conducting air operations against stealth F-35 fighter jets, AustraHind 2025 with the Australian Army, and the ongoing Malabar 2025 with QUAD countries.

India also debuted in Ocean Sky 2025 (October 20 – 31, 2025). This Spanish-hosted multinational air combat exercise at Gando Air Base featured Rafales alongside Eurofighters from 15 nations in dogfight simulations, SEAD, and refueling ops. Nearly 50 Indian pilots tested beyond-visual-range tactics.

In the meantime, India also conducted multiple domestic war drills to prepare its armed forces for the next potential war with Pakistan.

In August, India conducted Yudh Kaushal 3.0, a domestic Indian Army exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, integrating next-gen tech such as AI-driven drones and AR/VR for battle drills, involving 5,000 troops from the Eastern Command.

The drills focused on high-altitude warfare, simulated multi-domain ops, and tested BrahMos integration. Building on Operation Sindoor, it emphasized network-centric warfare and cyber resilience.

This was followed by Exercise Divya Drishti 2025. This domestic tri-service drill in East Sikkim assessed operational readiness, involving 2,000 personnel and surveillance operations using Heron UAVs and radar networks. Scenarios included border intrusion responses and HADR, coordinated via integrated battle groups.

The Indian Army also conducted “Achook Prahar,” a joint high-altitude military exercise conducted by the Indian Army’s Spear Corps and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Arunachal Pradesh in August. The exercise focused on validating operational preparedness in high-altitude and simulated combat conditions through coordinated firepower drills.

This was followed by the Tri-Services Exercise (TSE-2025) “Trishul,” led by the Indian Navy with the Army and Air Force, mobilizing thousands across Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, Gujarat’s Kutch creeks, and the northern Arabian Sea.

Activities encompassed amphibious assaults using INS Jalashwa, live-fire maneuvers with Su-30MKI, Rafale, and Tejas aircraft, integrated ISR, electronic warfare, and cyber operations, as well as sub-exercises such as Akhand Prahar for deep-penetration tactics. Post-Sindoor, it validated the multi-domain hybrid warfare model.

Earlier this month, the Indian Army Chief visited Ambala to assess the capabilities of the Strike Corps, including swarm drones, kamikaze drones, anti-drone systems, and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS) related to modern-warfare drills.

Another thing to note about these drills is the use of weapons systems that performed well in Operation Sindoor, such as Rafales, Su-30MKI fighter jets, BrahMos missiles, Heron UAV, and a focus on high-altitude warfare, drone warfare, theatrization, and coordination between the tri-services, and multi-domain hybrid warfare.

Clearly, this is not the routine of an Army in peacetime. This hectic pace of war games and the particular domain focus suggest that the Indian armed forces are anticipating another round of hostilities with Pakistan.

Now, let us examine the weapons systems India has tested since Operation Sindoor.

Indian Missile, Drone & Air Defense Tests Since Op Sindoor

While the Indian Army regularly tests its weapons systems, the hectic pace of these tests since May is unprecedented and suggests heightened alertness and a focus on maintaining a high level of preparedness.

In May, barely days after the ceasefire declaration, India conducted the final trials of two cutting-edge reconnaissance and surveillance drones developed by IIT Kanpur.

In July, India conducted tests of its indigenous Akash Prime surface-to-air missile (SAM) system for high-altitude air defense purposes.

This was followed by the test of the nuclear-capable Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) (range 5,000 km) from Odisha’s Wheeler Island.

Then, in August, the DRDO tested the Integrated Air Defense Weapon System (IADWS), validating multi-layered air defense integration for intercepting aerial threats.

IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system comprising all indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM), Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles, and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon(DEW).

In September, India showcased that it can launch the nuclear-capable Agni-Prime ballistic missile from a rail, enhancing survivability and rapid deployment across India’s over 60,000 km of rail network.

In October, India conducted a Joint Army-Navy-Air Force exercise in Madhya Pradesh, testing advanced drones, counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), and air defense integration under Exercise Cold Start.

India issued another NOTAM in the Bay of Bengal from October 15-17, signaling another test of a long-range ballistic missile.

Again, these tests suggest a very high level of war preparedness.

Now, let us examine a few statements by India’s civilian and military leadership in recent times.

Police and security personnel stand at blast site in front of charred vehicles following an explosion near the Red Fort, in the old quarters of Delhi, on November 10, 2025. A car explosion in the bustling heart of the Indian capital on November 10, 2025 killed at least eight people and injured another 19, officials said. Police have not given details on the cause, but said that forensic and anti-terrorism agencies were at the site, near the landmark Red Fort. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)

India Warns Pakistan of ‘History-Changing’ Response

It is not usual for Indian civilian and military leadership to issue statements like changing Pakistan’s geography. However, in recent times, multiple such statements have been made, suggesting heightened tensions between the two countries.

On October 2, India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stern warning to Pakistan over the Sir Creek region, reiterating India’s firm stance on its territorial integrity.

The minister said any Pakistani misadventure in this area would invite a severe Indian response, one capable of “changing both history and geography”.

Pakistan should remember, Rajnath Singh warned, that one route to Karachi passes through the creek.

“If Pakistan dares to act in the Sir Creek sector, the reply will be so strong that it will change both history and geography. In 1965, the Indian Army showed courage by reaching Lahore, and in 2025, Pakistan must remember that the road to Karachi also passes through the Creek,” Singh said.

This was not an isolated statement.

On October 3, Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi said that India’s western neighbour must stop state-sponsored terrorism or its historical and geographical existence will be in jeopardy.

“If Pakistan wants to maintain a place in world history and geography, it must stop state-sponsored terrorism. We will not show any restraint this time as we did during Operation Sindoor 1.0 and will go a step ahead if provoked again,” the Army chief said during his visit to the Bikaner Military Station to review the operational readiness of troops.

“It is possible that we will hit it so hard that Pakistan will be compelled to do a rethink, whether it wants a place in history and geography or not”.

General Dwivedi also told Indian troops to be prepared for another showdown with Pakistan.

“Please be fully prepared. God willing, you will get another opportunity very soon,” he added.

Earlier, on October 2, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh also told the soldiers to be prepared.

“We need to keep our thinking tabs on, stay ready for present and future wars, and adopt an integrated approach with all services and agencies,” he said.

Furthermore, the Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has repeatedly warned Pakistan that Operation Sindoor has not ended, but has only been paused.

Also, India is not alone in testing its weapons systems. A similar exercise is also taking place on the other side of the border.

Since May, Pakistan has tested the Shaheen-III Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), the Fatah-IV Ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) with a range of over 400 km, and an unspecified ballistic or hypersonic missile in Balochistan, with locals reporting spiraling trails and bright plumes.

Pakistan has also issued repeated NOTAMS in October and November, suggesting multiple missile tests.

Furthermore, Pakistan is making constitutional amendments to concentrate all power in Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir’s hands, giving him unlimited authority over all wings of the Pakistani armed forces.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani terror infrastructure targeted during Operation Sindoor is being revived in Pakistan, often with active state support. The Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM), targeted during the May 6 strikes, has announced the formation of its first-ever women’s wing, named “Jamaat-ul-Mominaat” (Brigade of Believers), which can recruit female suicide bombers with a focus on destabilizing India.

It is noteworthy that since Modi became the Indian Prime Minister over a decade ago in 2014, India has not witnessed a major terror attack outside of Jammu and Kashmir.

If a terror link is confirmed to the Delhi blast, this would mark the first major terror attack on the Indian mainland since 2014. Given that Modi has not shied away from attacking Pakistan for terror attacks even within J&K, his response to a terror attack on the Indian national capital can only be imagined.

  • Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK. 
  • THIS IS AN OPINION ARTICLE. VIEWS PERSONAL OF THE AUTHOR. 
  • He can be reached at ahlawat.sumit85 (at) gmail.com

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