On Saturday, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh attributed the success of Operation Sindoor to decisive political will, clear directives, and full operational freedom provided by India’s political leadership, countering earlier claims by India’s defence attaché to Indonesia, Captain Shiv Kumar, who suggested that political constraints had led to the loss of some IAF aircraft during the operation.
During his address in Bengaluru, Air Chief Marshal Singh emphasised, “There was political will, clear directions given to us, and there were no restrictions. If there were any constraints, they were self-made. We decided how much to escalate, had full freedom to plan and execute, and ensured mature, calibrated attacks. There was synchronisation between the three forces.”
At a seminar, Captain Kumar earlier stated that political leadership constraints caused the loss of some IAF jets during Operation Sindoor, although he disagreed with exaggerated reports of aircraft losses.
However, Singh’s comments strongly refute this, underscoring that the government placed no limitations and that the military leadership independently managed escalation to maintain strategic maturity.
Operation Sindoor: Response to Pahalgam Terror Attack
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.
During the four-day offensive, the IAF destroyed five Pakistani fighter jets, an AEW & CELINT surveillance aircraft at Bholari located 300 kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC) and parked F-16s at the Jacobabad airfield.
Additionally, the operation neutralised nine terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur.
Singh supported the decision to halt operations after achieving objectives, addressing calls from certain quarters to prolong the offensive.
“We cannot afford to be continuously at war. We were in a mode of deterrence. Once objectives were met, the decision was taken at the higher level not to continue, and we were part of it,” he noted.
Operation Sindoor highlighted India’s integrated defence capabilities, with the Army and Navy working seamlessly alongside the IAF.
Advanced systems such as the S-400 missile shield successfully prevented Pakistani long-range weapons from penetrating Indian airspace.
Singh’s remarks reaffirm India’s strategic approach in the volatile geopolitical environment, showcasing a well-coordinated, precise military response driven by autonomous operational planning and unwavering political backing.
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