Covert ops, precision strikes or something else? How India may retaliate to Pahalgam terror attack

India launched airstrikes in Pakistan's Balakot in 2019 following the Pulwama attack

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that India's response to the heinous Pahalgam terror attack will be "loud and clear", echoing similar remarks by PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah.

Singh also asserted that India will hunt down the perpetrators of the attack as well as those who orchestrated it from behind the scenes.

Defence officials are already seeing Tuesday's attack, which left 26 people dead and several injured, as an "act of war" and a serious escalation in the region, according to a report in CNN-News18.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy for Hafeez Saeed's terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The terrorists who ambushed the tourists were armed with military-grade weapons and advanced communication devices, which points to external logistical support.

Therefore, a strong retaliation from India — even a cross-border strike — in the coming days appears imminent.

In the past, India has responded strongly to terror attacks on its soil — be it the surgical strikes after the 2016 Uri attack or the Balakot airstrikes in retaliation to the Pulwama attack in 2019.

US-based foreign policy expert Michael Kugelman said that all bets are off vis-a-vis LoC following the attack. "Pakistan’s border with India has been one of its calmest in recent years, thanks to the 4-year-old LoC truce and given cross-border violence and tensions with Afghanistan and to a lesser extent Iran. But after today’s attack, all bets are off with the LoC," he said on X.

So what are the military options before India as it looks to avenge the dastardly attack? Here's a look:

Surgical Strikes

India could deploy elite special forces to carry out targeted ground operations across the Line of Control (LoC), striking terror launchpads or infrastructure used by terror groups. Surgical strikes are swift, precise raids aimed at minimizing collateral damage while delivering a strong message. The 2016 Uri response set a precedent for this kind of action. Several LeT and Jaish-e-Muhammed camps are located in PoK with TOI reporting that terror infrastructure in the region is still infact.

Precision Airstrikes

In the event of serious escalation, airstrikes on terror training camps or command centres deep inside Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir can also be considered. India launched airstrikes in Pakistan's Balakot in 2019 following the Pulwama attack, using Mirage 2000 jets to hit Jaish-e-Mohammed facilities.

Artillery Strikes and LoC Escalation

A robust and immediate option is the use of heavy artillery shelling across the LoC. India can target Pakistan army positions that are known to facilitate terrorist infiltration, employing guided munitions and rocket systems.

Quasi-Covert Military Ops

India’s security establishment could also turn to quasi-covert or deniable operations involving special forces or intelligence-backed missions inside PoK or even Pakistan. These could include sabotage missions, targeted eliminations of terror leaders or cyber-physical disruption of terror logistics.

Missile-Based Precision Strikes

In a rare but plausible scenario, India could consider the use of long-range cruise missiles like BrahMos to conduct pinpoint strikes on high-value targets within Pakistan. These strikes would likely be aimed at infrastructure directly linked to terror operations — such as headquarters, training camps or communication nodes. However, such an action edges close to a wider escalation, especially if critical Pakistani military or state assets are struck.