During Operation Sindoor a year ago, India severely damaged the terror eco-system in Pakistan while inflicting losses on its armed forces. Although the neighbouring country could not inflict any major damage on our side, it created a fake narrative about damages or losses to the Indian side.
Addressing a joint press conference on the first anniversary of the Operation Sindoor, Lieutenant General Rajeev Ghai, Air Marshal Avdesh Kumar Bharti and Vice Admiral A.N. Pramod reiterated that it was Pakistan who requested for ceasefire and by the time we had achieved our objectives, accomplished the mission, for we paused. They (Pakistan) asked for a cessation of hostilities, we stepped back but did not blink.
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai told the media, “Pakistan lost more than 100 soldiers in the operation while over 100 terrorists were killed in the calibrated air strikes on those terror bases. We learned about this from the list of posthumous awards and honours that perhaps inadvertently appeared online, he said, adding, “Their list of honours and awards revealed that so many of those awards were given posthumously. The numbers that they suffered on the line of control in the exchanges that followed, they lost more than 100 soldiers”.
Moreover, our Air Force too rendered huge damage/losses to their airforce asset and the strategic infrastructure, Air Marshal Bharti said adding-“Besides, decimating the 9 terrorist camps on May 7, 2025, we struck 11 of their airfields. We destroyed 13 of their aircraft either on the ground or in the air, including one high-value airborne asset at a record distance of 300 kilometres plus…”
Contrary to this, We suffered no major damages/loss on our side, the losses, he said.”Pakistan could not inflict any major damage on our side. Neither any military infrastructure nor much of the civilian structures, Air Marshal Bharti asserted. He said “Whatever they may say about the damages or loss to us, but that is just fake narrative, but, remember narratives and rhetoric do not give you victory. Victory is measured by hard facts…”, the Air Marshal quipped.
He also sought to dispel controversy over the abrupt ceasefire by India asserting that it was on request from Pakistan that too after achieving objectives operation and accomplishing the mission.
Air Marshal Bharti says, “A question which comes up time and again is why did we agree to stop? I fully understand the angst of the people, particularly the youngsters, in view of our experience with Pakistan. But allow me to clarify on this point..
Our fight was with the terrorists and their support infrastructure, that is what we hit, ensuring no collateral damage. We had achieved our objectives, and our mission was complete..
However, then Pakistani establishment sided with terror and make it their own fight, we had no choice but to respond in kind. It was about self-defence much beyond a counter- terror operation. When we responded, it was lethal and ruthless.
After sensing the severity, they asked for a cessation of hostilities. We paused when the request came. We stepped back but we didn’t blink. We had delivered the message, and message was very clear – misadventure will not go unanswered, and terror strikes will carry consequences…”
The Commanders have once again clarified they armed forces were given full free hand (operational autonomy) but very distinct objectives and mission.
It had given clear politico- military objective and operational flexibility to achieve, it had clearly stated to destroy and degrade the terrorism ecosystems, disrupt their planning and deter future aggressions from these 9 bases. This was very unambiguously spelled out while the armed forces were to execute this operation in appropriate way with their plans.
This balance between firm directive from the top and professional autonomy and flexibility at the operational level was the critical key to our success last year.
It allowed us into military to adopt swift move to deconflict to synchronise and respond decisively in dynamic multidomain battle field.
They also reiterated that Operation Sindoor was still on, it was just begging the last year. The operation would continue until total eradication of terrorism.