Operation Sindoor & India's handling of events in its aftermath point to many opportunities for the country…and also gaps to be filled.

India’s ability to conduct a planned strike on terrorist infrastructure and then effectively repel

retaliatory drone and missile attacks from Pakistan demonstrates several things:

1. Strategic and Military Maturity: The ability to carry out precise military operations and then maintain escalation control reflects growing competence in both hard power and geopolitical strategy. This boosts India’s global image as a stable and capable power.

1. Crisis Management Capability: Success in such high-stakes scenarios reassures international stakeholders about India’s internal security and crisis management capabilities. For countries looking to diversify their supply chains, especially in the post-COVID and post-Ukraine conflict world, stability is a major criterion. India’s actions could therefore reinforce confidence in its reliability as a business partner.

1. Resilience & Confidence: Demonstrated resilience against cross-border threats—especially from a nuclear-armed neighbour—adds weight to India's voice in global forums. It could improve India's bargaining position in trade negotiations, defence partnerships, and multilateral institutions.

This leads to the thought: Can above points reinforce India's attempt to become a manufacturing hub, replacing China in some way?

The answer is yes but with several caveats.

The decision to shift supply chains out of China involves multiple considerations, including following 'Gaps':

• Infrastructure and Logistics: India still lags behind China in manufacturing infrastructure, port efficiency, and logistics networks.

• Ease of Doing Business: While reforms are ongoing, bureaucratic red tape and regulatory unpredictability remain challenges.

• Skilled Labor and Ecosystem: China’s vast network of component manufacturers, skilled workers, and supply chain depth has taken decades to build. India is catching up, but it’s not yet a one-to-one substitute.

Conclusion:  India is clearly positioning itself as a leading alternative to China—and military credibility adds to the broader perception of a rising, confident power. Geopolitical trust can support its ambition to attract more global manufacturing.

However, we need to 'fill the gaps' on war footing.

JAI HIND.

Gaurav Sarup