At a high-level press briefing in New Delhi, senior commanders from India’s Army, Air Force, and Navy presented a detailed report on the successful execution of Operation Sindoor, which took place on May 7. The operation was a direct retaliation for a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22. India has linked the attack to the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, with intelligence services pointing to elements within Pakistan’s military as being complicit in the attack.
Video and Briefing Highlights:
The Indian Army shared a compilation video of Operation Sindoor, titled ‘Destroy the Enemy in the Sky’. The video included footage from various military branches, showcasing a wide range of operations conducted during the mission. One segment showed a collage of what appeared to be wreckage from military equipment, with the caption “The Pakistani Mirage…Shattered”. This caption sparked speculation that the Indian Air Force had destroyed a Pakistani Mirage fighter jet during the operation. However, the Indian Air Force has yet to officially confirm this claim.
Senior Defence Officials Speak Out:
At the briefing, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, along with Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti and Director General of Naval Operations Vice Admiral AN Pramod, provided a comprehensive overview of the operation.
Air Marshal Bharti praised the performance of India’s indigenous air defense system, the Akash system, which he noted had been instrumental in creating a “potent air defense environment.” He also credited budgetary and policy support from the Indian government over the past decade for making the operational success possible.
Details of Operation Sindoor:
Operation Sindoor lasted approximately 25 minutes and took place in the early hours of May 7. The operation targeted nine confirmed terror sites, with four located in mainland Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed that over 100 terrorists were neutralized, and multiple facilities linked to terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen were destroyed.
Pakistan’s Retaliation and India’s Defense:
In retaliation for the Indian strikes, Pakistan launched a series of drone and missile attacks aimed at Indian military facilities and border towns in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. These attacks set off air raid sirens and caused blackouts in cities such as Chandigarh, Jaisalmer, and Pathankot.
While India reported limited damage to military installations in Udhampur, Adampur, Pathankot, and Bhuj, there were civilian casualties as a result of the strikes. A government employee in Rajouri, J&K, was killed, and several people were injured in Ferozepur, Punjab, due to drone strikes. However, India’s air defense systems successfully thwarted numerous waves of Pakistani drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The country’s indigenously developed counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) played a critical role in neutralizing the threats.
Looking Forward:
Operation Sindoor has been seen as a clear message from India, reaffirming its commitment to neutralizing terror threats emanating from across its borders. As tensions continue to simmer between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the situation remains volatile. India’s military continues to be on high alert, with ongoing countermeasures and a preparedness to respond swiftly to any future provocations.
This operation has underscored the effectiveness of India’s indigenous defense capabilities and its resolve to protect its sovereignty. The continued coordination between the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy highlights a robust defense strategy aimed at safeguarding national security in the face of persistent external threats.
Sources By Agencies
