Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos: A Defining Strategic Lesson for India

Abstract

On May 10, 2025, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos in direct response to India’s Operation Sindoor, which had involved missile strikes on Pakistani territory. The Indian strikes targeted areas including Bhimber, Chak Amru, Bagh, Kotli, Sialkot, and Muzaffarabad, resulting in the tragic loss of numerous civilian lives, including women and children. These unprovoked attacks prompted an immediate retaliatory response from Pakistan. Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos targeted strategic military installations across India. It marked a significant turning point in South Asia’s security landscape. The operation met its tactical and operational objectives; its broader impact lay in challenging India's perceived conventional military superiority. Described as “precise, proportionate, and restrained,” the operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos underscored Pakistan’s commitment to international norms and the principle of lawful self-defense. Despite India’s increasingly aggressive posture, Pakistan maintained a calibrated and measured approach aimed at preserving national security without escalating to full-scale war. This paper analyzes the motivations, strategic planning, execution, and outcomes of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos within the broader context of the Indo-Pakistani rivalry. The analysis also considers the political and humanitarian dimensions of the conflict, drawing key lessons for India’s ongoing defense modernization.