On 10 May 2025, Pakistani military launched Operation Bunyan um Marsoos by targeting seven military sites across Indian territory.

Baffled by the response, India requested President Trump for a ceasefire and Pakistan accepted the call owing to its stance of peaceful co-existence with a rogue neighbor.

Analyzing Success of Operation Bunyan um Marsoos is as important as Pakistan’s creation. Bunyan um Marsoos is mentioned in Quran which refers to Muslims becoming a Wall of Steel to fight the infidels. The name was chosen for its significance to fade out a long bullying trend from India. The name, itself, had an impact of a spell for Pakistanis.

It is due to the long fog that existed on Pakistan’s existence after its involvement in War on Terror. As an Islamic country, Pakistan was fighting the mujahideen in Afghanistan. However, some political groups were against the war calling it not an internal crisis for Pakistan. Since 2001, Pakistan lost thousands of its people including soldiers and faced economic challenges. However, Operation Bunyan um Marsoos helped in a final blow to all miscreants with political objectives which were not in the interest of Pakistan.

Pakistan has been claiming since the beginning of war on terror that India is using its proxies in Afghanistan to bring destabilization in the region. It was using multiple pretexts such as the issue of Durand Line or Islamic Army fighting against Taliban. India had clear knowledge that it cannot fight Pakistan in a conventional war. Thus, it chose the same pattern it employed in East Pakistan in late 1960s and early 1970s. It was funding local groups to fuel hatred against the armed forces as well as supporting the terrorists in Afghanistan to conduct strikes within the Pakistani territory.

Policy of Restraint for Internal and External Threats

All this was continuing as Pakistan was going through several of its internal socio-economic and political crisis. One group would support Taliban regime; the other would stand against it. One group wanted economic management in a certain manner; the other on the total opposite. Each group had their own choice in terms of social, financial, political and other matters of the State. At the same time, Pakistan’s armed forces were relentlessly countering malign actions against the country. It involved managing the crisis strategically while dealing on multiple fronts.

Interestingly, Pakistan’s military wasn’t involved in decision making on emotional basis. Rather, the rationality was seen in the form of restraint to blow the actual culprit only.  The same approach that was adopted during the standoff with India in May 2025. Thus, one may look at Operation Bunyan um Marsoos as an eternal success. There is another aspect. One of the major successes of Operation Bunyan um Marsoos includes the resolution of its domestic challenges.

Operation Bunyan um Marsoos has brought together a unique national unity across Pakistan. Each and every individual, group or community is proud of Pakistani role in handling India during Operation Bunyan um Marsoos. The reasons are also very clear. India was in a bullying mode for the past several years. Every now and then, India would opt to challenge Pakistan’s existence in the region and global stage. Whether at SAARC or the United Nations, India was trying to minimalize Pakistan’s role in a show of power. It was using its magnanimous land mass aligned with its significant economic strengths as a mean of hegemony.

Humiliating Defeat for India?

India’s humiliating defeat on May 10, 2025 served as realignment of regional power structure in South Asia, the Gulf and the entire world. It was recognized that Pakistan is a regional power with very strong defense capabilities, although not utilized until recently. India was taken aback. Similarly, those who were questioning military’s ability to strike India were also taken aback. Pakistan came up as a strong power amid Operation Bunyan um Marsoos.

Let us also review how it became a year of global triumph for Pakistan.

A Year of Global Triumphs for Pakistan

On April 22 in 2025, the attack on tourists in Pahalgam area of disputed Kashmir was the trigger for India Pakistan standoff. The tourists were targeted on the basis of their service in Indian government including defense organizations. Within minutes, the Indian side was blaming Pakistan for the Pahalgam incident. The talks of limited strike within Pakistani territory began immediately. Pakistan warned that it will not go unanswered.

Yet, the Indian government perceived its narrative creation through large scale media management would end up in acceptance of its point of view. From the very beginning, the world wasn’t accepting it. India continued to escalate through its statements and conduct. Pakistan’s response was calm and clear. The Pakistani side called for investigation of the attack to ascertain if there was cross border involvement.

On May 7, 2025, India attacked Pakistani territory in a surprise move. Pakistan responded quickly. Immediately, 7 Indian fighter aircrafts were downed by Pakistan Air Force. The Indian hegemony was drowned in the Indian Ocean at the very moment.

Yet, it continued to escalate the situation while being unable to realize its inability to stand the ground. Later, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister claimed that 20 aircrafts were locked. However, Pakistan Air Force hit 7 aircrafts while exercising restraint. Most interestingly, Pakistan downed Rafale fighter jets during the incursion. It was the first ever time in history that a Rafale was ever hit in the fight.

During escalations, Pakistan continued to exercise maximum restraint. While swarm of drones were entering Pakistani territory, they were neutralized effectively. Pakistan was quick to deploy drones towards India to share its preparedness. Undeterred, India attacked Pakistani territory on May 10, 2025 at three locations including Shorkot, Chakwal and Rawalpindi. It turned out to be a critical error for India.

Operation Bunyan um Marsoos

Pakistan announced Operation Bunyan um Marsoos by attacking Indian military infrastructure. As Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan um Marsoos, the entire narrative turned upside down.

In the early hours of May 10, seven military sites were targeted in India. The sites included Adampur Airfield, Brahmos Missile Storage Site in Beas, Pathankot Airfield, Brahmos Battery Site in Nagrota, Udhampur Airbase, Field Supply Depot at Uri and Artillery Gun Position at Drangyari. Moreover, Indian military suffered heavy casualties on the Line of Control in the disputed Jammu & Kashmir.

At the same time, Indian infrastructure also got a severe hit. The entire region of Maharashtra went dark when the military’s signals branch stopped their electricity plants while sitting in Pakistan. The Indian Premier League was also stopped in between. At this moment, Pakistan made an announcement that it has only hit military targets. Any further attacks will result in civilian targets as well.

Wake Up Call for India

Pakistan’s response was a wakeup call for India. India was facing what it had never expected in wildest dreams. It had no choice left. Either, India could continue the war and face severe damages to its infrastructure, military sites and global standing. Or, it could stop the war and involve the international community for mediation. India chose latter. It requested United States to mediate and stop the war.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s point of view was the same from the day one. It did not want escalation. Once President Trump intervened, Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. A ceasefire was announced by President Trump by evening of May 10, 2025. The ceasefire turned out to be the greatest victory for Pakistan and a defining moment of embarrassment for India.

India had agreed to what Pakistan was calling for since April 22. A ceasefire was announced. Pakistan had clearly won the 4-day war. Pakistan returned to the global stage as a victor while India turned out to be an aggressor. Soon, Pakistani government elevated the Army Chief as Field Marshal. As history would remember, Field Marshal Asim Munir became the global spearhead of peacemaking efforts in many conflicts around the world. Operation Bunyan um Marsoos was the action that result in this all.

Resultantly, the Indian side faced several embarrassments one after the other. It turned to showcase itself as a victor. The world knew it. It was left far behind in any serious global issue thereafter. The world had seen the actual face of India. Globally, almost every nation accorded it the same status.

Pakistan’s Emergence as a Global Leader

On the other hand, Pakistan emerged as a global leader in different scenarios. Whether it was Iran-United States conflict or the Middle East related challenges, Pakistan led the narrative as an actual peacemaker and guarantor which can be trusted. Pakistani approach avoided fan following and self-praising poses. Rather, the wholehearted efforts with sincerity of resolution brought it as a trustworthy partner for nations across the world.

One of the significant achievements include occurrence of Islamabad Talks in Pakistan. Both the warring parties; the United States and Iran showed full trust for mediation between them. No other nation in the world carried this level of trust.

The Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia is one of the other significant moves which brings Pakistan as a guarantor of security in the Middle East. Pakistan Army has already made significant deployment in the region as part of its security pact with Saudi Arabia.

As Operation Bunyan um Marsoos put India in its place, the Afghan miscreants were being utilized to create unrest in Pakistan. To counter the threat, Pakistan began Operation Ghazab lil Haq against the Afghan regime. The term means the anger of the righteous group in terms of Islamic theology. Resultantly, Pakistan is able to bring about some security in its own borders.

Changing Course of a Nation

While Operation Bunyan um Marsoos has brought a Year of Global Triumphs for Pakistan. The long-term achievement could rest around its policy of staying connected to its reason of existence; the two-nation theory with a belief that Hindus and Muslims are two separate, distinct nations. Thus, it should follow a clear pattern of a modern Islamic country which values the life, property and sanctity of every citizen of Pakistan.

Operation Bunyan um Marsoos is definitely an event which turns the course of a nation to reconnect with the reason of its existence.