'Need Nerves Of Steel To Let Military Lead': Historian Praises Political Leadership For Op Sindoor

Last Updated:February 28, 2026, 17:07 IST

Adrien Fontanellaz touched upon Pakistan winning the info war but said it would benefit India in the long run as the adversary would become complacent due to their own propaganda

At the Rising Bharat Summit, Swiss-based military historian and author Adrien Fontanellaz highlighted the critical role of political courage and institutional trust in high-stakes military operations, citing India’s Operation Sindoor as a case in point.

“On the political level, you really need nerves of steel to let your military be in charge of the escalation ladder and to do what they need to do because the stakes are so high," Fontanellaz said. “You need trust in your own institutions—this was quite striking and rare."

Operation Sindoor, carried out after the Pahalgam terror attack, involved carefully calibrated strikes and military maneuvers aimed at countering insurgent networks while minimising escalation.

Asked about India dominating the battlefield but losing the information war, the historian reflected on the complexities of modern conflict, where strategic outcomes are no longer measured solely by battlefield success. He noted that despite India having dominated the operational aspects of the conflict with Pakistan, the country lost the information war.

“I am in two minds," he explained. “Of course, it is bad to lose the info war. Nowadays, communication is a line of operation itself, so it is true that the Pakistanis were better at that game."

Yet, Fontanellaz added a nuanced perspective on the strategic importance of such “wars of perception". “But at the same time, is winning this info war so important at the strategic level? Because Pakistan won the info war, they did not lose face. And when you have an adversary who has not lost face, they will not reform, and in future, they will be less of a threat."

Fontanellaz emphasised that high-stakes operations like Op Sindoor require more than just tactical skill: they demand political trust in military institutions, courage to delegate authority, and careful management of escalation risks.

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