Senior Indian military officials on Thursday revealed fresh operational details of Operation Sindoor, asserting that India struck terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir while inflicting significant losses on the Pakistani military during the 2025 conflict.
Addressing a press conference in Jaipur on the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti and Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai said the operation was launched in response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam massacre and executed through coordinated planning involving all three armed forces.
The senior officers described the operation as a calibrated military response aimed at destroying terror infrastructure while avoiding collateral damage. They also stressed that Operation Sindoor remains “paused”, with several military reforms and preparedness measures continuing even now.
‘We struck 11 airfields, destroyed 13 aircraft’
Air Marshal Bharti said India destroyed nine terror camps on May 7 before expanding the operation to target Pakistani military assets after Islamabad responded.
“We struck and decimated their nine terrorist camps on 7th May. The proof is there for everybody to see. 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,” he said.
On the damage suffered by India, Bharti said Pakistan had failed to inflict any major losses.
“They have not been able to inflict any major damage on our side. Neither any military infrastructure nor much of the civilian structures,” he said.
“Whatever they may say, remember narratives and rhetoric do not give you victory. Victory is measured by hard facts,” he added.
‘We stepped back, but we didn’t blink’
Responding to questions over why India agreed to halt operations, the Air Marshal said the military objectives had already been achieved before Pakistan sought cessation of hostilities.
“Our fight was with the terrorists and their support infrastructure. And that is what we hit, ensuring no collateral damage,” he said.
“When the Pakistani establishment decided to side with terror and make it their own fight, we had no choice but to respond in kind. When we responded, it was lethal and ruthless,” Bharti added.
He said India paused operations only after Pakistan requested a halt.
“We stepped back, but we didn’t blink. We had delivered the message, and the message was very clear — misadventure will not go unanswered, and acts of terror will carry consequences,” he said.
Army says Pakistan lost over 100 soldiers
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai said Pakistan suffered heavy casualties during exchanges along the Line of Control after the strikes.
“They lost more than 100 soldiers,” he said.
Referring to Pakistan’s military honours list, Ghai claimed several awards were given posthumously, indicating the scale of losses suffered during the operation.
“At the end of the day, if Pakistanis were to make the same amount of investment in their battle-fighting ability as they do in the narrative, I think they would have fared much better,” he remarked.
Ghai also highlighted the role of indigenous defence systems during the operation.
“Operation Sindoor proved that Atmanirbhar is not just a slogan, it is indeed a force multiplier,” he said, adding that over 65 per cent of India’s defence equipment was now being manufactured domestically.
‘No half measures when India acts’
Describing the broader strategy behind Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Bharti said the armed forces were given “full operational freedom” and that every operational decision was jointly calibrated by the military leadership.
“The objective was clear. It had to be lethal. It had to be precise, avoiding collateral,” he said.
Calling Operation Sindoor an ongoing but paused mission, Bharti said the operation reflected India’s resolve against terrorism.
“When our desire for peace is mistaken for weakness, and our silence is taken as absence, there is no choice but to act. And when we act, there are no half measures,” he said.