The Tactical Operations Center in South Block, New Delhi, operated in suffocating silence.
It was 11:45 PM on September 28, 2016.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval stood near the primary command console. Beside him stood Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh Suhag. They stared at a bank of massive, wall-mounted digital monitors.
The screens displayed the Line of Control. Seven distinct sectors across the Pir Panjal range in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir: Bhimber, Hotspring, Kel, and Lipa.
"Status of the infiltration units?" General Suhag asked, his voice low and flat.
A communications officer pressed a headset to his ear. "Teams One through Seven have crossed the LoC, sir. The Para Special Forces are currently navigating the heavily mined terrain on foot. They are three kiloters from the designated launch pads."
Doval checked his watch. The operation was entirely dependent on stealth. The objective was to hit the terrorist launch pads, eliminate the targets, and extract before the Pakistani military establishnt even realized they were under attack.
"Weather report," Parrikar requested.
"Cloud cover is extrely dense, Defense Minister," an ISRO liaison officer reported from his terminal. "Monsoon density is at ninety percent. Standard optical satellites are entirely blind. We cannot provide visual overwatch."
Doval didn't panic. He looked at the lead technician. "Engage the thermal patch."
The technician typed a rapid sequence of commands into the isolated terminal. He interfaced directly with the ISRO Cartosat-2 command link.
"Patch engaged. Stripping atmospheric noise. Calibrating thermal topography now," the technician confird.
The primary monitor flickered. The static, grey, cloud-blinded feed dissolved instantly.
A stark, high-definition, blue-and-black thermal map replaced it. The mountains and deep ravines of PoK appeared in sharp geotric relief. And scattered across the blue terrain, clustered in seven specific geographic bowls, were bright, glowing red dots.
Parrikar leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the console. "We have them."
"Heat signatures confird," the technician read the data stream. "We are counting approximately forty-five hostile signatures across the seven launch pads. We also have real-ti tracking on the periter guards."
Doval picked up the secure comm-link microphone. He bypassed standard protocol, speaking directly to the forward commanders leading the Para SF teams on the ground.
"Alpha Command, this is South Block," Doval stated firmly. "Overwatch is active. We are patching the thermal feeds directly to your tactical displays now."
Deep in the hostile, freezing forests of PoK, the commanders of the 4 Para and 9 Para Special Forces looked down at their wrist-mounted ruggedized tablets. The screens flared to life. They didn't have to guess where the enemy sentries were hiding in the pitch-black jungle. The red thermal dots showed them exactly where to step, where to aim, and where to strike.
"Alpha copies," the radio crackled. "Visual acquired. Moving to strike positions."
The n in the South Block ops room watched the monitors in dead silence for the next two hours. They watched the small, green dots representing the Indian commandos slowly, thodically surround the red dots. The digital visualization of the battlefield removed the fog of war. The Special Forces had absolute situational awareness.
At exactly 2:00 AM, the radio crackled again.
"Alpha in position. Initiating."
For the n in the command center, the war was silent. They simply watched the monitors as the green dots converged on the red dots.
On the ground in PoK, it was a sudden, violent, and devastating inferno.
The commandos utilized suppressed assault rifles, Carl Gustaf rocket launchers, and heavy incendiary grenades. The terrorist launch pads, constructed of wood, tin, and concrete, were obliterated. The guards were neutralized before they could even raise their weapons. The terror operatives, sleeping in their barracks preparing to infiltrate India, never woke up.
The operation was surgical. It was precise, brutal, and entirely one-sided. The thermal patch ensured that not a single hostile escaped into the surrounding forest. If a red dot ran, a green dot intercepted it.
By 3:30 AM, the thermal clusters in the seven designated zones had completely vanished. The launch pads were burning rubble.
"South Block, this is Alpha," the radio broke the silence. "Targets neutralized. Heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. We are initiating extraction protocol."
Doval exhaled a long, slow breath. The retaliation was complete. But the operation wasn't over until the n were back on Indian soil. The Pakistani military outposts, awakened by the explosions, began firing blindly into the dark, launching mortar shells across the LoC.
"Guide them back," Parrikar ordered the technicians.
Using the thermal overwatch, the command center mapped the safest extraction routes, guiding the Para SF teams through the ravines, avoiding the blind Pakistani artillery fire.
At 4:30 AM, the final radio transmission ca through.
"Alpha to South Block. All units have crossed the LoC. We are back in Indian territory."
"Casualties?" General Suhag asked imdiately.
"Zero, sir. All n accounted for. One commando sustained a minor injury from a landmine shrapnel during extraction, but he is stable and walking."
The Tactical Operations Center erupted. Analysts and technicians clapped, hugging each other. General Suhag offered a sharp, deeply satisfied nod to Parrikar.
Ajit Doval remained perfectly still. He looked at the thermal map on the screen. The software patch had provided the ultimate tactical advantage. It had saved Indian lives and secured a historic military victory.
He turned around and walked out of the ops room. The political and military fallout was about to begin.
The Announcent
September 29, 2016.
The Indian cricket team had arrived in Kolkata two days prior to prepare for the second Test match against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens.
At 11:55 AM, Siddanth Deva was sitting in the lounge of the ITC Sonar hotel. He was wearing his blue training shorts and a white t-shirt. Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Cheteshwar Pujara were sitting around the coffee table. They were reviewing footage of the New Zealand batsn on a laptop.
The large television mounted on the lounge wall was tuned to a national news channel, playing quietly in the background.
Suddenly, the standard news broadcast abruptly cut off. A bright red "BREAKING NEWS" banner flashed across the screen. The volu seed to spike automatically.
"Turn that up," Kohli said, frowning at the screen.
Ashwin grabbed the remote and unmuted the television.
The broadcast showed a hastily arranged press conference room in New Delhi. The crest of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of External Affairs hung on the wall. Sitting at the long table were two n: Vikas Swarup, the A spokesperson, and Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).
The journalists in the room were completely silent. The atmosphere was incredibly tense.
Lt Gen Ranbir Singh leaned into the microphone. He wore his olive-green uniform, his face a mask of absolute, unyielding military authority.
"Based on very specific and credible information that so terrorist teams had positioned themselves at launch pads along the Line of Control to carry out infiltration and terrorist strikes inside Jammu and Kashmir and various other tros in our country," the DGMO began, his voice steady and clinical.
Siddanth stopped wiping his bat. He locked his eyes onto the screen. He knew exactly what was coming.
"The Indian Army conducted surgical strikes last night at these launch pads," Lt Gen Ranbir Singh declared.
The words hit the hotel lounge like a shockwave. Kohli sat up completely straight. Ashwin lowered the laptop lid.
"The operations were basically focused to ensure that these terrorists do not succeed in their design of infiltration and carrying out destruction," the DGMO continued. "During these counter-terrorist operations, significant casualties have been caused to the terrorists and those who are trying to support them. The operations aid at neutralizing the terrorists have since ceased. We do not have any plans to continue these operations."
The DGMO looked directly into the caras.
"The Indian Ard Forces are fully prepared for any contingency that may arise. I have spoken to the Pakistani DGMO, shared with him the details of the operations we conducted last night, and conveyed our concerns. Thank you."
The press conference ended. The news anchors in the studios imdiately began screaming, trying to process the magnitude of the announcent. India had crossed the Line of Control. They had struck inside Pakistani-controlled territory and publicly announced it. It was a monuntal paradigm shift in Indian military policy.
"They actually did it," Kohli whispered, his eyes wide. "They went in and got them. For Uri."
"Surgical strikes," Ashwin murmured, shaking his head in awe. "To cross the LoC, hit the camps, and return without massive casualties... the intelligence and execution required for that is staggering."
Siddanth sat back in his chair. The crushing weight of guilt that had sat in his chest since the morning of the Uri attacks finally dissolved. The nineteen martyrs had been avenged. The military had done their job.
Siddanth pulled his phone from his pocket. He didn't say anything to his teammates. He opened his Vibe and Twitter applications. He didn't write a long, boastful paragraph. The army deserved the spotlight, not him.
He typed a single, simple ssage.
Salute to the valor and precision of the Indian Army. The nation sleeps safely because you stand awake on the borders. Jai Hind. 🇮🇳 #SurgicalStrike #IndianArmy
He hit post.
Ten minutes later, as the team broke up to head to their respective rooms to get ready for the afternoon net session, Siddanth's secure NEXUS phone vibrated.
The caller ID was blank. It was the encrypted frequency.
Siddanth walked into his private suite, locked the door, and answered the call.
"Hello, sir," Siddanth said quietly.
"The announcent is out," Ajit Doval's voice ca through the speaker. It was flat, carrying no celebration, only the weariness of a man who had been awake for forty-eight straight hours.
"I saw the press conference. Congratulations on a flawless operation," Siddanth replied.
"It was flawless because we could see in the dark, Siddanth," Doval stated directly, offering rare, unvarnished praise. "The monsoon clouds were impenetrable. We would have been blind. Your thermal patch stripped the interference perfectly. The forward commanders had real-ti coordinates. They saw the sentries before the sentries even heard them. We did not lose a single man."
Siddanth closed his eyes. The code he had written in the cold subterranean server room had worked. It had guided the bullets.
"The n on the ground pulled the triggers, Ajit sir," Siddanth said. "I just gave them a flashlight. They are the heroes today."
"Modesty suits you, Siddanth," Doval replied. "But the governnt knows the truth. The Pri Minister sends his personal regards. The military contracts for the Garuda sh network and the Vajra Shield firewall have been expedited by the defense procurent committee. We are moving forward with NEXUS. I will have my office send the paperwork to your CEO."
"Understood, sir," Siddanth said.
"Focus on your cricket match tomorrow, Captain," Doval concluded. "The borders are secure."
The line clicked dead. Siddanth lowered the phone. The geopolitical chessboard was set, and NEXUS was now officially the digital armor of the Indian military.
---
The DGMO's announcent triggered a digital earthquake across India. The hashtag #SurgicalStrike generated over two million tweets within three hours. The internet was a mix of intense patriotism, political rallying, and pure, unfiltered Indian culture mocking the Pakistani establishnt's denial of the event.
@narendramodi (Verified):
I salute the courage, valor, and absolute precision of our Ard Forces. The nation is proud of your sacrifice and dedication. Jai Hind. 🇮🇳
@virendersehwag (Verified):
Salute to Indian Army. The boys have played really well. Insaanukaam hai batana, baaki Army ka kaam hai aukaat yaad dilana! (It is a man's job to warn, it is the Army's job to show them their place!) #SurgicalStrike
@akshaykumar (Verified):
Proud of the Indian Army for a highly successful and brilliantly executed anti-terror operation. You make us feel safe. 🙏
@DefenseMinIndia (Verified):
The operations last night were a precise, preemptive strike against terror launch pads. The Indian Ard Forces will not hesitate to protect the sovereignty of this nation.
@Gauti_Gambhir (Verified):
Finally, actions speak louder than words! A massive salute to the Para SF commandos. We don't just condemn terror anymore; we eliminate it. 🇮🇳
@SrBachchan (Verified):
Proud of our Ard Forces. They have shown imnse courage and strategic brilliance. Jai Hind.
@LordIndia:
Pakistan Army right now: "Nothing happened! We just heard so firecrackers!"
Indian Army: "Bro, your camps are literally missing from Google Maps." 😂💀 #SurgicalStrikes
@DesiMomDaily:
My mother just offered a coconut to the TV screen when the DGMO was speaking. The patriotism in Indian households today is at 200%. 🥥🇮🇳
@SiddanthDevaFC:
The Captain tweeted! When Siddanth Deva and the Indian Army are both in form, the enemies don't stand a chance! 🐐🇮🇳 #SurgicalStrike
@ArjunReddy_NEXUS (Verified):
Absolute perfection in execution. A proud day for the nation and a stark warning to those who harbor terror. Salute to the Para SF.
@TechBro_Delhi:
I want to know the logistics. How do you cross the LoC, blow up 7 camps, and walk back without anyone noticing until the morning? That is so Ghost Recon stealth stuff! 🎮🔥
@RaviShastri_Parody:
The Indian Army just hit a massive six out of the stadium and right into PoK! Tracer bullet execution! 🏏🚀
@Anjali_Vlogs:
I have goosebumps! The way the DGMO spoke was so cold and terrifying. "We do not have any plans to continue these operations." Translation: We finished the job. 🥶👏
@PakistanGov (Parody):
"Please stop calling it a surgical strike. Our soldiers just tripped and fell on so bullets accidentally." 🤡
@BollywoodGossip:
Every Bollywood director is currently fighting to register the title 'Surgical Strike' with the film guild right now. Expect a movie in two years! 🎬
@VVSLaxman281 (Verified):
A very proud mont for every Indian. Salute to the brave hearts of the Indian Army. Jai Hind.
@TechGuru_India:
Imagine waking up and finding out your military just pulled off a Call of Duty mission in real life. Unbelievable precision.
@Desi_Humor:
[Image: A confused cat looking around.]
Caption: Pakistani radar operators looking at their screens this morning. 😹📡
@GarGod_99:
Indian Army used Silenced weapons, Ghost perk, and Dead Silence. Flawless stealth run. No alarms triggered. 🥇
@HistoryIndia:
This marks a definitive shift from strategic restraint to active, preemptive deterrence. A historic day in Indian military history.
@KTRTRS (Verified):
A massive salute to the Indian Ard Forces. The entire nation stands firmly behind our soldiers today. 🇮🇳
@Central_IND:
[Image: Drake tapping his temple.]
Caption: You can't have border tensions if you remove the borders at 2 AM. 🧠💥
@Indian_Student_UK:
Woke up in London to this news. My chest is swelling with pride. Everyone in my university is talking about it.
@AshwinRavi99 (Verified):
The real heroes don't wear jerseys; they wear camouflage. Salute to the Indian Army.
@Ayesha_Khan:
The calmness of the DGMO during that press conference was so intimidating. He just dropped the hardest news of the decade and didn't even blink.
---
The geopolitical tension outside the stadium only fueled the competitive fire inside it.
On September 30, 2016, the second Test match between India and New Zealand comnced at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The pitch was vastly different from the dry, spinning track in Kanpur. Freshly re-laid, it offered a healthy covering of grass and uneven, two-paced bounce that tested the technique of every batsman.
Siddanth won the toss and bravely elected to bat first.
The New Zealand pacers, Matt Henry and Trent Boult, wreaked havoc in the morning session. Shikhar Dhawan chopped on. Murali Vijay was caught behind. Virat Kohli, trying to force a drive, was caught brilliantly at gully. India was struggling at 46/3.
Siddanth walked out to bat. He abandoned his T20 instincts entirely.
He ground out a tough, gritty innings, leaving the seaming deliveries and pushing singles. He partnered with Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77) to stabilize the innings. Siddanth scored a patient, flawless 85 off 172 balls before being trapped LBW by a ball that kept notoriously low from Mitchell Santner.
Wriddhiman Saha, playing on his ho ground, scored a brilliant, fighting 54 not out to push India to 316 in their first innings.
When New Zealand batted, they faced the wrath of the Indian pacers. Bhuvneshwar Kumar put on a masterclass of swing bowling, picking up a spectacular 5-wicket haul (5/48). Mohamd Shami battered the lower order with sheer pace. New Zealand was bowled out for 204.
India secured a 112-run lead. In the second innings, Rohit Sharma (82) and Saha (58*) batted aggressively, setting New Zealand a daunting target of 376.
The fourth innings belonged to the Indian spinners on a deteriorating pitch. Ashwin and Jadeja strangled the Kiwi batters. Siddanth didn't need to bowl a single over. India won the match by 178 runs on Day 4.
The victory at Eden Gardens secured the series 2-0. It also officially propelled India back to the Number 1 ranking in Test cricket. Siddanth accepted the ICC Test Mace from the officials, holding it aloft as the Eden Gardens crowd roared.
---
The third and final Test took place at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, hosting its very first Test match.
The pitch was a flat, batting paradise. Siddanth won the toss and elected to bat.
What followed was an absolute massacre. Virat Kohli played one of the greatest innings of his life, constructing a monuntal 211. Ajinkya Rahane supported him with a magnificent 188.
When Rahane fell, Siddanth walked in at 465/4. He didn't want to bat into Day 3.
Siddanth treated the exhausted New Zealand bowlers like net practice. He raced to a century in just 72 balls, hitting eight massive sixes into the Indore stands. As soon as he crossed the three-figure mark, he signaled the declaration.
India declared at 557/5.
New Zealand fought hard in their first innings, with Martin Guptill scoring 72, but Ravichandran Ashwin was unplayable. He took 6/81, bowling New Zealand out for 299.
Siddanth didn't enforce the follow-on. He wanted his batsn to get so quick runs and rest his bowlers. Cheteshwar Pujara scored a rapid 101*, and India declared again, setting a massive target of 475.
Ashwin destroyed New Zealand in the fourth innings, taking an astonishing 7/59.
India won the match by 321 runs. They completed the series sweep, winning 3-0. Siddanth Deva was rightly nad Man of the Series.
Siddanth lifted the Paytm Trophy, handing it to the youngsters in the squad. The white-flannel season had started with absolute dominance.
---
The format shifted to One Day Internationals. MS Dhoni returned to lead the squad in the five-match series, bringing his calm, calculating presence back to the dressing room. Siddanth slotted back into his natural role as the vice-captain and the number four enforcer.
The ODI series was a tighter contest, but India's depth proved too much for the Kiwis.
1st ODI (Dharamshala): India chased down New Zealand's sub-par total of 190 with ease. Virat Kohli anchored the chase with 85*, while Siddanth finished the ga with an unbeaten 55*. India won by 6 wickets. India led 1-0.
2nd ODI (Delhi): Kane Williamson scored a brilliant 118, setting India a target of 243 on a tricky surface. The Indian top order collapsed, but Siddanth stabilized the innings. He scored a rapid century, finishing with 110 off 85 balls, guiding India to a 4-wicket victory. India led 2-0.
3rd ODI (Mohali): New Zealand posted a challenging 285. In response, Virat Kohli played a chase-master innings, scoring 154*. Dhoni promoted himself to number four and scored 80. Siddanth did not bat (DNB). India won by 7 wickets, sealing the series. India led 3-0.
4th ODI (Ranchi): Playing in Dhoni's ho town, New Zealand batted first. Siddanth dismantled their middle order, claiming a 4-wicket haul (4/42) to restrict them to 260. However, chasing 261, the Indian batting order faltered. Siddanth scored 35 but was caught in the deep. New Zealand won by 19 runs. India led 3-1.
5th ODI (Visakhapatnam): The final match. The pitch was slow and spinning. Rohit Sharma scored 70. Siddanth walked in and played a stabilizing innings, finishing unbeaten with 65* off 58 balls to help India post 269/6. When New Zealand batted, Amit Mishra spun a web of destruction, taking 5/18. New Zealand collapsed, bowled out for 79 runs. India won the match by 190 runs, officially securing the ODI series 4-1.
Reviews
All reviews (0)