Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on August 9, credited the success of Operation Sindoor to decisive political will, unambiguous directives, and complete operational freedom granted by India’s political leadership. His remarks counter earlier suggestions by India’s defence attaché to Indonesia, Captain Shiv Kumar, that political constraints had cost the IAF some aircraft during the operation.
Delivering his address in Bengaluru, Air Chief Marshal Singh said, “There was political will, clear directions given to us, and there were no restrictions. If there were any constraints, they were self-made. We decided how much to escalate, had full freedom to plan and execute, and ensured mature, calibrated attacks. There was synchronisation between the three forces.”
Captain Kumar had told a seminar earlier this month that although he disagreed with exaggerated reports of aircraft losses, some IAF jets were indeed lost during Operation Sindoor “only because of the constraint given by the political leadership.”
Singh’s remarks stand in contrast, underscoring that the government imposed no limitations and that escalation decisions were internally determined by military leadership to maintain strategic maturity.
Singh revealed that during the four-day offensive launched on May 7, 2025, in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, the IAF destroyed:
- Five Pakistani fighter jets
- One AEW&C/ELINT surveillance aircraft, downed at Bholari, 300 km from the LoC
- Parked F-16s at Jacobabad airfield
The operation also targeted and neutralised nine terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur.
Addressing calls from some quarters to continue fighting, Singh supported the higher-level decision to halt operations after objectives were achieved: “We cannot afford to be continuously at war. We were in a mode of deterrence. Once objectives were met, the decision was taken at the higher level not to continue, and we were part of it.”
Operation Sindoor showcased India’s integrated defence capability, with the Army and Navy working in full coordination with the IAF, while advanced systems like the S-400 missile shield prevented Pakistani long-range weapons from penetrating Indian territory.
