New Delhi: In a joint press conference held at the National Media Centre on Sunday, the senior-most operational commanders from all three wings of the Indian Armed Forces revealed major outcomes of India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in the aftermath of the horrific Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians.
Lieutenant General Rajeev Ghai (Director General Military Operations), Vice Admiral A N Pramod (Director General Naval Operations), and Air Marshal A K Bharti (Director General Air Operations) jointly announced the results of “Operation Sindoor” — a cross-border counter-terror operation aimed at neutralising terror infrastructure inside Pakistan.
In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes destroyed 11 air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties.
Air Marshal AK Bharti on Sunday emphasised the country’s military capabilities, stating that India has the ability to target every system at Pakistan’s bases.
This statement comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations, following India’s recent military operation, Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India’s military operation involved precision strikes on nine sites identified as terrorist infrastructure, including militant camps in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Bahawalpur.
Addressing a press briefing, Air Marshal Bharti said, “.We have the capability to target every system at these (Pak) bases and more. However, it was only a measured response to instil good wisdom to our adversary to refrain from further escalation. IAF’s response was directed only at military installations, avoiding civilians and collateral damage.”
Bharti revealed that Pakistan launched a massive drone attack on Indian cities, including Srinagar and Naliya, on the night of May 8-9, starting at 22:30 hours. According to Bharti, Indian air defense forces were prepared and successfully countered the drone attacks, preventing any damage to intended targets.
“A decision was taken to strike where it would hurt and towards that in a swift, coordinated, calibrated attack, we stuck its Air bases, command centers, military infrastructure, air defence systems across the entire Western Front. The bases we stuck includes Chaklala, Rafiq, Rahim Yar Khan, sending a clear message that aggression will not be tolerated. This was followed by strikes at Sargodha, Bhulari, and Jacobabad.”
Pakistan launched its own military operation, Operation Bunyanun Marsoos, targeting several key bases in India. Reports suggest that around 300-400 drones were used in the attack, targeting 36 Indian locations, including military bases and religious sites.
The drones were reportedly of Turkish origin, specifically Asisguard Songar drones. India responded with precision strikes on Pakistani air defence sites, including military installations and surveillance radar sites in Lahore and Gujranwala.
“On the night of 8th and 9th, starting as early as 22:30 hours, our cities had a mass raid of drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, starting right from Srinagar going right up to Naliya…We were prepared and our air defence preparedness ensured that there was no damage on the ground or to any of the intended targets that the enemy had planned for…In a measured and calibrated response, we once again targeted the military installations, surveillance radar sites at Lahore and Gujranwala…Drone attacks continued till morning which we countered,” said Air Marshal AK Bharti.
Bharti highlighted that Pakistan allowed civilian aircraft to fly out of Lahore during the drone attacks, including international passenger aircraft, which posed a significant challenge for India’s response.
“While the drone attacks were being launched from somewhere closer to Lahore, the enemy had allowed their civilian aircraft also to continue to fly out of Lahore, not only their own aircraft but also international passenger aircraft, which is quite insensitive and we had to exercise extreme caution…,” he added.
According to Bharti, India’s focus was on hitting targets accurately, leaving the enemy to assess their losses.
“Whatever methods and whatever means we have chosen, it had the desired effects on the enemy targets. How many casualties? How many injuries? Our aim was not to inflict casualties, but in case there have been, it is for them to count. Our job is to hit the target, not to count the body bags,” he said when asked about Pakistani Army casualties.
Air Marshal Bharti refrained from disclosing technical details of the weapons and calibres employed, citing operational confidentiality.
“I never mentioned any of the weapons and calibre that we used–we leave it at that. Those are matters of operational details that I would not like to get into,” he said. He said whatever methods and means were chosen “had the desired effects on the enemy targets.”
“Our job is to hit target, not to count body bags:” Air Marshal AK Bharti on Pak Army casualties in Operation Sindoor
The precision strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces had “desired effects on the enemy targets,” Air Marshal AK Bharti said on Sunday, without elaborating on the loss of lives to the Pakistan Army.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir after a deadly attack in J&K’s Pahalgam last month in which 26 tourists were killed.
“Our aim was not to inflict casualties, but in case there have been, it is for them to count. Our job is to hit the target, not to count the body bags,” Air Marshal Bharti said.
Addressing the media on Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Bharti refrained from disclosing technical details of the weapons and calibres employed, citing operational confidentiality.
“I never mentioned any of the weapons and calibre that we used–we leave it at that. Those are matters of operational details that I would not like to get into,” he said. He said whatever methods and means were chosen “had the desired effects on the enemy targets.”
“How many casualties? How many injuries? Our aim was not to inflict casualties, but in case there have been, it is for them to count. Our job is to hit the target, not to count the body bags,” the Air Marshal said , when asked about the loss of lives to the Pakistan Army.
