In a decisive move, the Indian armed forces launched 'Operation Sindoor' in the early hours of Wednesday, conducting precision missile strikes on nine terror targets across Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. These strikes were a direct retaliation for the barbaric terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, which tragically claimed the lives of 26 people, predominantly tourists. Key strongholds of terrorist organizations, including Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke, were specifically targeted in this operation.

The action garnered immense support and praise from across India's sporting fraternity and the Bollywood community. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar led the tributes, posting on 'X' (formerly Twitter): "Fearless in unity. Boundless in strength. India's shield is her people. There's no room for terrorism in this world. We're ONE TEAM! Jai Hind." Other prominent cricketers like Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Shikhar Dhawan also expressed their solidarity, with Sehwag famously writing, "Agar koi aap par patthar phenke toh uspar Phool Phenko, Lekin Gamle ke saath (If someone throws stones at you then respond with flowers but not without the pots they are planted in). Jai Hind." Badminton ace Saina Nehwal, Olympic boxer Vijender Singh, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, and chess player Vidith Gujrathi also lauded the strikes, emphasizing India's firm stance against terrorism and the need for justice.

Bollywood actors too joined in commending the armed forces. Akshay Kumar captioned his post with 'Jai Hind. Jai Mahakaal' alongside 'Operation Sindoor'. Kangana Ranaut, BJP's MP from Mandi, reiterated the government's "zero tolerance" stance on terrorism, while "Pushpa" star Allu Arjun and Tollywood megastar Jr NTR also expressed their support, praying for the safety and strength of the Indian Army. Suniel Shetty emphasized "Zero tolerance. Total justice." Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur highlighted that India's response demonstrated its responsibility and confidence, noting the precise hit at organizations backing terrorists "without the rhetoric of War." Other actors like Riteish Deshmukh, Nimrat Kaur (whose father was an Indian Army officer), Anupam Kher, and singer Adnan Sami also shared messages of patriotism and support for the armed forces.

These actions came two weeks after the devastating Pahalgam attack, which had sparked widespread outrage both domestically and internationally. Following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a high-level meeting with top defense brass on April 29, had granted the armed forces "complete operational freedom" to determine the mode, targets, and timing of their response, leading to the precise and effective execution of 'Operation Sindoor'.