Where did the pressure come from, asks Congress after IAF chief’s ‘new revelations’ on Operation Sindoor

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the “new revelations” made by Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Amar Preet Singh, saying the sudden stop of Operation Sindoor now becomes all the more shocking.

He further asked, “Where did the pressure on the PM come from and why did he capitulate so very soon?”

His remarks came shortly after the IAF chief Singh said that India inflicted severe damage to the Pakistani side during Operation Sindoor, destroying at least five confirmed fighter jets of Pakistani Air Force.

Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, Singh said, “We have five confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres.”

According to the Air Chief Marshal, this was the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill.

He further stated that Indian strikes also destroyed an F16 hanger at Shahbaz Jacobabad airfield of Pakistan.

“I’m sure there were some aircraft inside which have got damaged there…We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there,” Singh added.

He also praised the political will, saying it was the key reason behind the success of Operation Sindoor and backed the government’s decision of ceasefire.

“A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There were very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us… If there were any constraints, they were self-made,” he said, adding, “Some people very close to me said, ‘Aur maarna tha’. But can we continue to be at war? The nation has taken a good decision.”