In a clear message of strategic intent and restraint, Air Marshal AK Bharti on Monday clarified that Operation Sindoor was exclusively targeted at terrorist elements and not aimed at the Pakistan military or civilian population. “Our fight is with the terrorists, not with the Pakistan military or its civilians,” Air Marshal Bharti said during a tri-services press briefing. “We are very clear in our targeting.” The statement underlined India’s focused military approach despite escalating regional tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Air Marshal Bharti emphasised that the Indian Armed Forces demonstrated their operational precision and technological preparedness through Operation Sindoor. “Our counter systems and trained air defence operators are fully capable, and our indigenous technology has proven its effectiveness,” he asserted. “No matter what kind of technology emerges, we are prepared to counter it. The results speak for themselves.” Backing this, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai praised India's multi-layered air defence network that successfully thwarted attempted strikes by the Pakistan Air Force on May 9 and 10.
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“There was no chance for Pakistan to breach our defence and hit our airfields or logistic installations,” said Lt. Gen. Ghai. He credited the successful defence to India's well-integrated systems, which include Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), air defence weapons, and electronic warfare assets. Here are 8 Key points.
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Air Marshal AK Bharti
- Deployment involved IAF, Army, and Navy assets in a robust, multi-layered system
- Numerous Pakistani drones and UAVs neutralised using soft and hard-kill anti-UAV systems
- Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missiles reportedly missed targets, countered effectively
- Long-range rockets, loiter munitions, and Turkish-origin Yiha systems were neutralised
- Visual evidence of quadcopters being shot down by Indian systems is shown
- Specific hits:
- Nur Khan Air Base
- Rahimyar Khan Air Base
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, DGMO of the Indian Army
- India did not cross LoC or IB- defence was executed from within our territory.
- 9–10 May: Multi-layered air defence grid effectively countered drone attack.
- Pakistan Air Force (PAF) drones couldn’t breach this defence grid.
- Quoted reference: “From ashes to ashes, dust to dust”- illustrating total drone neutralisation and impossibility to reach our locations and inflict damage
- Some drones have been taken down by shoulder-fired weapons.
- Unarmed aerial systems (UAS) were also neutralised.
- Also, Praised BSF- from DG to soldiers for their role.
Vice Admiral A. N. Pramod, AVSM
- Persistent surveillance, detection, and identification conducted by maritime forces.
- Multiple sensors and intelligence inputs used to respond to threats as they arise.
- Operations conducted under a layered fleet air defence system, addressing threats from drones, missiles, and aircraft.
- Navy pilots operated with high proficiency, both day and night.
- Aircraft carriers, equipped with MiG-29Ks and airborne early warning fighters, prevented enemy aircraft from approaching.
- No hostile aircraft could come near the Indian fleet.
The May 12 briefing also served to reassure the public and international community that India’s response was measured, precise, and rooted in a doctrine of self-defence, underscoring the armed forces’ ability to act decisively without escalating toward full-scale conflict.