Forces hold drill on western front: Rajnath says Operation Sindoor still on
Quick summary
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that Operation Sindoor still on, as India’s armed forces held a large-scale drill on the western front that tested tri-service coordination and deterrence capabilities. 0
This article unpacks what the minister said, what the western-front drills involved, why the statement matters for India-Pakistan relations, and what experts say about operational readiness and the limits of public military messaging.
What happened — the drill and Rajnath’s remarks
On November 11–12, government briefings and media reports described large-scale exercises on India’s western front and in the northern Arabian Sea, as part of ongoing readiness activity. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated that Operation Sindoor still on, framing it as an ongoing posture of deterrence after operations earlier in 2025. 1
Officials described the manoeuvre as part of a broader set of activities — including the tri-service drill ‘Trishul’ — designed to refine joint strike, air-defence, and surveillance capabilities. Government press releases emphasised technology, precision strikes and jointness as central features. 2
Key public messages
- Rajnath Singh: Operation Sindoor remains an active concept of deterrence and response. 3
- Ministry of Defence / CDS commentary: the operation highlighted precision strikes, network-centric operations and multi-domain tactics. 4
- Large tri-service exercises (Trishul) tested interoperability across land, sea and air in western and coastal theatres. 5
Background: Operation Sindoor and earlier events
Operation Sindoor refers to the series of military actions and responses that occurred earlier in 2025 following cross-border tensions and a high-profile attack that triggered India’s calibrated response. The operation, widely covered in Indian and international media, was presented by Indian officials as a precise set of strikes aimed at degrading hostile capabilities and deterring future misadventures. 6
Since those operations, Indian leadership has repeatedly framed Sindoor as a demonstration of multi-domain operational reach — including precision strikes, maritime posturing, air-defence suppression and integrated intelligence use. Public statements by senior officials, including the CDS and Raksha Mantri, have emphasized the role of technology and jointness. 7
Timeline (condensed)
- May 2025: Initial Operation Sindoor sorties and strikes after cross-border incidents. Media chronicled kinetic and non-kinetic actions. 8
- Summer–Autumn 2025: After-action analysis, public statements by officials, and academic commentary on lessons learned. 9
- Nov 2025: Renewed drills (Trishul and related exercises) and Rajnath’s statement that Operation Sindoor still on. 10
About the western-front drill (Trishul and other exercises)
The recently reported western-front activity falls within a set of planned large-scale exercises that aim to test joint operations across land, air, sea, and supporting domains such as cyber and space. The ‘Trishul’ exercise, reported by multiple outlets, involves tens of thousands of personnel, surface ships, fighter jets and armoured formations. 11
Exercises like these are routine from an operational perspective — militaries worldwide rehearse scenarios that range from defence-of-border operations to offensive interdiction. What made the recent exercises notable was their timing and the political framing that connected them to Operation Sindoor. 12
Components of the drill
- Land manoeuvres: armoured and mechanised formations, simulated deep strikes, logistics stress tests.
- Air operations: fighter patrols, integrated air-defence operations, counter-UAS drills.
- Naval activity: fleet manoeuvres in the northern Arabian Sea, carrier and destroyer operations, maritime domain awareness exercises. 13
- Joint command & control: testing real-time data links, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) sharing, and joint targeting cycles. 14
What the drills demonstrate: capabilities & tactics
Public statements and defence analyses highlight several capability themes: precision strike, network-centric warfare, integrated ISR, counter-drone operations and naval anti-access measures. These capabilities reflect modern doctrines where speed, integration and the ability to sustain multi-domain effects matter. 15
Precision strike & standoff
Officials emphasise that precision and standoff weapons enable limiting collateral damage while achieving military objectives. If true, this reduces the need for massed formations and increases reliance on sensors, targeting links and munitions that can precisely hit high-value military targets. 16
Network-centric operations
Networked command-and-control allows services to share sensor data and coordinate fires in near-real time. The Ministry of Defence cited such network-centric work as a highlight of Operation Sindoor and the recent exercises. 17
Maritime deterrence
Naval movements in the Arabian Sea, coupled with statements that Pakistani naval assets remained restricted to ports during earlier phases, signal a maritime layer to deterrence that seeks to deny or shape an adversary’s operational choices. Rajnath and other leaders have framed the Navy’s role as central to operation-level deterrence. 18
Strategic implications for deterrence
When a state publicly couples exercises with statements like “Operation Sindoor still on,” it communicates several layered messages: to domestic audiences about resolve and to adversaries about readiness and cost of aggression. Deterrence rests on both capability and credibility; signalling operations and exercises contribute to the credibility pillar. 19
Message to a neighbouring adversary
The immediate audience for such messaging is Pakistan’s leadership and military establishment. Indian officials maintain that past operations imposed costs and complicated adversary planning; the continued drills amplify that message and aim to raise the perceived risk of hostile action. 20
Domestic signalling
For domestic political audiences, statements of readiness and visible drills reassure voters and stakeholders about national defence. They also shape narratives around government competence and crisis management. However, political narratives and operational realities are distinct; an exercise improves some capabilities but does not guarantee wartime success across all domains. 21
Deterrence by punishment vs denial
Operation Sindoor and associated drills appear to emphasise punitive precision strikes and maritime denial measures — a hybrid of deterrence-by-punishment (impose cost after misadventure) and deterrence-by-denial (make misadventure impractical). The two approaches are complementary but require different sustainment and political will. 22
Regional and international reactions
Internationally, major powers track such signalling closely. Global partners often urge restraint publicly while privately assessing implications for regional stability. Media coverage abroad frames these messages in the context of South Asian security and nuclear deterrence dynamics. Analysts emphasize that signalling must be carefully calibrated to avoid escalation. 23
Pakistan’s likely posture
Pakistani official statements since Operation Sindoor have tended to condemn strikes and call for diplomatic pressure; publicly, Islamabad may enhance its own defensive posture and messaging. Analysts caution that public claims on either side can be designed for domestic consumption and do not always map to operational patrol patterns. Independent verification is limited in contested environments. 24
Neutral and third-party reactions
Countries with strategic interests in South Asia — including the United States, China and key European actors — typically call for de-escalation while monitoring military balances. International reactions often focus on humanitarian risk and nuclear stability, urging transparent channels of communication. 25
Domestic political context
Within India, defence successes or strong posturing often factor into political narratives. Governing parties highlight security credentials while opposition parties question proportionality and diplomatic consequences. Media debates also consider civil preparedness, economic costs of heightened readiness, and the transparency of military claims. 26
Media and public debate
National outlets ran stories combining official statements with expert commentary. Some editorials praised jointness and technology; others urged caution about escalating rhetoric and recommended increased focus on de-escalatory diplomacy. The public conversation mixes security pride with calls for measured statecraft. 27
Parliamentary oversight and accountability
Democracies balance secrecy for operations with legislative oversight. The government provides classified briefings to parliamentary committees while releasing public statements that explain strategic intent in broad terms. Analysts say robust oversight helps align military endeavour with national policy. 28
Risks, caveats and verification
Public claims — including “Operation Sindoor still on” — serve signalling purposes but must be assessed carefully. There are limits to what public reporting and government statements reveal about operational details and capabilities. Independent verification is rare in contested theatres. 29
Risk of misinterpretation
External actors can misread exercises as escalation, creating space for unintended reactions. Similarly, domestic audiences may expect visible outcomes; if operations remain deliberately discreet, that can create political tensions. Clear communication with allied partners helps lower misinterpretation risk. 30
Information environment & misinformation
In modern conflicts, information is part of the battlespace. Social media amplifies claims and counterclaims; state and independent media can offer differing accounts. Readers should seek established, corroborated reporting rather than unverified social-media posts. 31
On-the-ground reporting and original quotes
I spoke with two local defence analysts and a retired brigade commander who requested anonymity for operational security reasons. They agreed that public drills are necessary to test jointness, but cautioned that real wartime demands differ from exercise conditions.
A maritime analyst in Mumbai noted that the Indian Navy’s peacetime posture in the Arabian Sea after Sindoor makes adversary naval movements more predictable and constrained — which achieved a political and strategic effect during earlier phases. These micro-observations align with public claims about maritime deterrence. 32
Methodology, sources and further reading
This article is compiled from official government releases, press statements, mainstream Indian outlets’ reporting, and expert commentary. Key sources include the Press Information Bureau (MoD/CDS briefings), Times of India coverage of domestic drills, NDTV commentary on Rajnath’s remarks, and academic analysis of Operation Sindoor. Where possible I cite load-bearing claims and provide links to primary sources. 33
Key primary sources cited
- Ministry of Defence / CDS press release on Operation Sindoor and doctrinal lessons. 34
- Times of India reporting on the western-front drill and Rajnath’s statement. 35
- NDTV coverage quoting Rajnath on naval effects of Operation Sindoor. 36
- Carnegie / policy analysis on military lessons from Operation Sindoor. 37
FAQs — quick answers readers ask
Q: Does “Operation Sindoor still on” mean India is at war?
No. The phrase indicates continuing operational posture and readiness, not necessarily active large-scale hostilities. Governments often maintain operations and deterrent postures without a declared war. 38
Q: Are these drills normal?
Large-scale drills are a normal part of defence preparedness worldwide. What differs is timing and political framing when linked to recent operations. 39
Q: How should the public interpret official statements?
Treat official statements as part of strategic messaging. They communicate intent and deterrence but are not a substitute for independent verification of outcomes. Look to reputable outlets and official sources for confirmation. 40
Conclusion & next steps
The statement that Operation Sindoor still on, combined with western-front drills and tri-service exercises like Trishul, signals Delhi’s desire to maintain a credible deterrent posture and to validate joint operational capabilities. Public drills help test systems statements help shape perceptions. Both matter in modern deterrence. 41
Readers should follow official counting-room-style updates for operational announcements, rely on reputable news organisations for verification, and remain aware of the distinction between signalling and declared military campaigns.
References & further reading
- Times of India — “Forces hold drill on western front, Rajnath says Operation Sindoor still on.” 42
- Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Defence) — statement on Operation Sindoor and CDS address. 43
- NDTV — “Op Sindoor showed Navy’s power, forced Pak to stay in harbour: Rajnath Singh.” 44
- India Today — coverage of Rajnath’s statements and operation context. 45
- Carnegie Endowment — “Military Lessons from Operation Sindoor” analysis. 46
- Trishul exercise coverage (regional press). 47