NSA Ajit Doval says India can ‘hit hard’ irrespective of consequences in first post-Sindoor interview

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has said India’s generosity and tolerance should not be mistaken for weakness, asserting that the country is willing to take risks and strike hard regardless of the consequences.

Doval made the remarks in Discovery’s upcoming two-part docuseries, “Declassified: Operation Sindoor”, offering his first interview since the military operation and an account of the thinking behind India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

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Doval said the objective of Operation Sindoor was clearly defined — to destroy terror camps, particularly those linked to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam.

"We had decided the objective of the operation as destruction of the enemy camps particularly those who had been responsible for the Pahalgam attack," Doval said.

He said the operation was also intended to send a broader message about India’s willingness to respond forcefully to threats.

"Message to the world is very clear - India's generosity or India being tolerant should not be mistaken for its weakness. India can take risks, India can hit hard, irrespective of the consequences," he added.

The two-part series brings together India's military and national security leadership to recount the decisions and events surrounding Operation Sindoor, Discovery said in a statement. It features first-hand accounts from officials who oversaw India's response and examines the decision-making behind the military action.

Doval, in particular, speaks about the resolve behind the operation and the calculations that shaped India's response, the broadcaster said.

“Declassified: Operation Sindoor” will premiere on Saturday at 9 pm on Discovery and its streaming platform discovery+.

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88 hours of conflict

Operation Sindoor was launched early on May 7 last year, following the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Indian forces carried out precision strikes against multiple terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan subsequently launched offensives against India, prompting a series of Indian counter-offensives that were also conducted under Operation Sindoor.

The ensuing military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours lasted nearly 88 hours before India and Pakistan reached an understanding on the evening of May 10, bringing the hostilities to an end.

The docuseries comes as the first detailed public account from Doval since the operation, offering a glimpse into the security establishment's assessment of the threat and the decisions taken during one of the most serious military confrontations between the two countries in recent years.