Air Marshal Bharti details Operation Sindoor: 13 Pakistani aircraft downed, 11 airfields hit, terror camps neutralised

Jaipur, May 8. Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, who served as Director General of Air Operations during Operation Sindoor last year, said on May 7 that Indian forces shot down 13 Pakistani aircraft and struck 11 airfields during the high-intensity military campaign.

Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur to mark the first anniversary of the operation, the Deputy Chief of Air Staff stated that Indian forces also destroyed nine terrorist hideouts located inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He emphasised that the strikes were executed with precision, ensuring that no damage occurred to Indian civilian or military infrastructure.

Air Marshal Bharti said the armed forces were granted full operational freedom during the mission, with key decisions taken jointly by the leadership of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

“When our desire for peace is mistaken for weakness, we have no choice but to act. And when we act, there is no room for leniency. It is decisive and lethal – that is what translated into Operation Sindoor,” he remarked.

Addressing questions on why India agreed to halt hostilities, he acknowledged the public sentiment, particularly among the youth, given India’s past experiences with Pakistan. However, he clarified that the objective of the operation was strictly focused on terrorists and the infrastructure supporting them.

“We targeted only those elements while ensuring there was no collateral damage. Once our objectives were achieved, the mission was complete,” he said.

According to him, the situation escalated after what he described as the Pakistani establishment’s decision to align itself with terror elements, turning the operation from counter-terrorism into an act of self-defence.

“At that stage, our response had to be lethal and uncompromising,” he said.

He added that after sustaining significant losses, Pakistan sought a cessation of hostilities.

“We paused when the request came. We stepped back, but we did not blink. The message was clear – misadventures will not go unanswered and acts of terror will carry consequences,” he said.

Air Marshal Bharti also highlighted the importance of having a clear conflict termination strategy, warning that nations drawn into war without defined objectives risk losing direction.

Reflecting on the lessons from the operation, he said it underscored the central role of air power in modern warfare, extending beyond the Air Force alone.

He concluded by saying that terrorists operating from across the border would now be “deeply worried,” as India had gained direct insight into the adversary’s capabilities, capacities and tactics.