Abstract
The post Operation Sindoor strategic landscape marks a critical inflection point in India’s security doctrine, where conventional deterrence is challenged by an evolving spectrum of hybrid and grey zone threats. This article analyses the emergence of “Hybrid Plus” and “Darker Grey Zone” strategies, with a focus on Pakistan’s calibrated shift towards AI driven disinformation, drone warfare, cyber intrusions, and covert escalation and control the escalation of cross border terror activities under the nuclear threshold. It highlights how these tactics blur the lines between peace and war, demanding new doctrinal, operational and organisational responses. By assessing India’s current capabilities, doctrinal shifts and strategic advantages, the paper proposes a comprehensive roadmap involving capability building, structural reforms and multi domain preparedness to secure national interests in this new normal of persistent and ambiguous conflict.
Keywords: Operation Sindoor, Hybrid Warfare, Grey Zone Warfare
