In a rare intersection of sports and geopolitics, Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy voiced public support for the Indian Armed Forces following the launch of Operation Sindoor—a bold military response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that shook the nation last month. Representing Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing IPL 2025, Chakravarthy shared a powerful image from the operation on his Instagram story, reflecting the growing wave of patriotic solidarity among public figures.
His message wasn’t alone. Esteemed former cricketers like Suresh Raina, Aakash Chopra, and Pragyan Ojha also came forward to laud the armed forces for their swift and precise retaliation. Their reactions underscore a rising sentiment across India: that terrorism will be met with force, and the victims of the Pahalgam attack will not be forgotten.
Operation Sindoor unfolded in the early hours of May 6, as Indian armed forces—coordinating across the Army, Navy, and Air Force—carried out synchronized precision strikes on nine terror infrastructure points located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These sites were known hubs for groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, long accused of planning and launching attacks against India from across the border.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reinforced the country's diplomatic position with a terse, impactful statement on social media: “The world must show zero tolerance for terrorism.” His message came just hours after the air strikes and was meant not only as a declaration of India's intent but as a call for global alignment against state-sponsored terror networks.
This wasn’t an isolated message. In the days leading up to the operation, Jaishankar had been actively engaging with foreign ministers from several non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, including nations such as Greece, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Guyana, Panama, Slovenia, and Somalia. These strategic conversations were aimed at garnering diplomatic support and ensuring the world understood the severity of Pakistan’s involvement in harboring militant groups. That Pakistan itself holds a rotating seat on the Security Council only heightens the stakes of this geopolitical narrative.
The catalyst for Operation Sindoor was the heinous April 22 Pahalgam attack, where 25 innocent tourists and a local pony operator were ambushed and murdered by gunmen with alleged ties to Pakistani-backed terror outfits. India’s operation was not merely a retaliation—it was a statement of national policy: cross-border terrorism will be rooted out at its source, and those responsible will be pursued to the ends of the map.
As cricket stars, citizens, and statesmen rally behind the armed forces, Operation Sindoor marks a pivotal moment in India’s ongoing war against terrorism. It is a reminder that national unity in the face of violence transcends the boundaries of battlegrounds, stadiums, and political halls alike.