‘Operation Sindoor’ ignites surge in Google searches across Pakistan: What people wanted to know

Pakistan's government condemned the strikes as an "act of war" and claimed to have shot down five Indian military jets.

Following India's launch of 'Operation Sindoor'—a series of precision strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)—there has been a notable surge in online searches from Pakistani citizens seeking information about the operation and its nomenclature.

The operation, conducted in the early hours of May 7, 2025, was a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen. India's military targeted nine sites associated with terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, aiming to dismantle launchpads and camps used for cross-border attacks.

As news of the operation spread, Pakistani netizens turned to search engines with queries like "What is Sindoor?", "What is Operation Sindoor?", and "Operation Sindoor wiki". The term 'Sindoor' refers to a traditional vermillion powder worn by married Hindu women and symbolises marital status and, in some contexts, the blood of martyrs. Its use in naming the operation served as a poignant reminder of the Pahalgam massacre, where newly married men were among the victims.

Additional search trends in Pakistan included phrases such as "India launches missile", "India missile attack", and "India fired missile Pakistan", indicating widespread concern over potential military escalation. The term "white flag", symbolising surrender, also saw increased searches, reflecting public anxiety about the possibility of full-scale conflict.

Pakistan's government condemned the strikes as an "act of war" and claimed to have shot down five Indian military jets, including three Rafales . India, however, maintained that its actions were focused, measured, and non-escalatory, targeting only terrorist infrastructure and avoiding Pakistani military facilities.

The situation remains tense, with both nations on high alert.