In a significant show of strength and solidarity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday May 13, 2025 visited the strategic Adampur Air Base in Punjab, where he met with Indian Air Force personnel involved in the recently concluded and highly successful Operation Sindoor. The Prime Minister hailed the bravery of the armed forces and delivered a resolute message aimed at Pakistan, asserting that "India will not hesitate to respond with full force if provoked."

Adampur air base is one of the four key Indian Air Force (IAF) stations which were targeted by the Pakistani military and suffered limited and peripheral damage. The other three stations, which were targeted, are Udhampur, Pathankot and Bhuj. Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh.

Operation Sindoor, which was launched covertly earlier this month, is now being celebrated as the symbol of India's strategic precision

Adampur air station is the second largest airbase of the Indian Air Force, which is home to the 47th Squadron of the IAF, known as 'Black Archers'. Adampur air base also hosts a forward deployment of the 28th Squadron of Su-30 MKI, which is a multirole air superiority combat jet.

Dressed in traditional kurta-pyjama with a combat jacket, the Prime Minister spent over three hours at the base, receiving briefings on the operation and interacting with frontline pilots, engineers, and ground support staff.

Operation Sindoor, which was launched covertly earlier this month, is now being celebrated as the symbol of India's strategic precision. The operation targeted and neutralised key terror launchpads across the Line of Control (LoC), reportedly deep inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in response to a spate of recent cross-border incursions and terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi's visit to Adampur negates the claims made by a Pakistani agency that it had targeted and hit the S-400 base at Adampur, which turned out to be false and fabricated.

Modi's visit to Adampur also negates the claims made by a Pakistani agency that it had targeted and hit the S-400 base at Adampur, which turned out to be false and fabricated. The visuals also demonstrate the readiness of the S-400 systems in the backdrop.

Message to the Nation and Beyond

Addressing the troops in his signature passionate style, Prime Minister Modi said,

"The success of Operation Sindoor is not just a military achievement—it is a message. India has changed. We believe in peace, but we are not afraid to defend it with strength. Those who dare to test our resolve will face the full might of our armed forces."

Without naming Pakistan directly, Modi made it clear that any future misadventures would be dealt with more severely.

"Let this be a warning. Terrorism will find no haven. The soil of India will never be stained again with the blood of innocents," he added.

In his address to the nation, Modi emphasised that India had only paused retaliation against the terrorists and military bases of Pakistan, and not ended it

Earlier, while addressing the nation, Modi praised the Indian Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor, and said, "I salute the valiant forces of India, the armed forces, our intelligence agencies, and our scientists." He lauded the "immense courage" the soldiers displayed to achieve the objectives of Operation Sindoor. He however, in his address to the nation, emphasised that India had only paused retaliation against the terrorists and military bases of Pakistan, and not ended it.

As it was noted, it was the DGMO of Pakistan who reached out to his Indian counterpart, calling for a ceasefire.

Operation Sindoor: A New Military Posture

While details remain classified, sources have revealed that Operation Sindoor involved coordinated air and ground strikes executed with minimal civilian casualties. It showcased advanced drone warfare, precision-guided munitions, and high-altitude tactical manoeuvring, demonstrating a new level of sophistication in India's counter-terror strategy.

Defence analysts suggest that the operation could mark the beginning of a more assertive Indian military posture along the western front, especially in the face of persistent proxy threats.

The operation could mark the beginning of a more assertive Indian military posture along the western front

Modi's visit comes at a time when national morale is surging. The Prime Minister took time to share meals with the soldiers, personally commending individuals who played key roles in the mission.

"You are the pride of our nation. Every citizen sleeps in peace because you stand guard in hardship and danger," he told them.

Prime Minister Modi's visit is not just a morale booster, but also a strategic signal—both to Pakistan and to the international community—that India is prepared to take decisive action against terrorism. It also comes amid heightened diplomatic efforts to isolate state-sponsored terror at global forums.

 

Manish Kumar Jha is a Consulting & Contributing Editor for SP's Aviation, SP's Land Forces and SP's Naval Forces and a security expert. He writes on national security, military technology, strategic affairs & policies.