New Delhi: Three months after India’s precision strikes devastated terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), new details of Operation Sindoor have been disclosed. The mission, launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, relied on fewer than 50 weapon systems to compel Pakistan to the ceasefire table.
Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of Air Staff, revealed that out of several strike plans placed before the leadership, nine high-value targets were chosen. “The remarkable aspect is that with fewer than 50 weapons, we achieved complete conflict termination,” he said. He underlined that starting a war is far easier than bringing one to a close, and that the operation was carefully calibrated to deliver a decisive yet controlled outcome.
Tiwari credited the success to India’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). The network, he explained, enabled India to withstand initial Pakistani actions while orchestrating a coordinated, hard-hitting response. This technological backbone allowed the Air Force to operate at speed, absorb shocks, and maintain dominance in both defensive and offensive theatres.
According to him, India’s political leadership had issued three clear instructions:
The punitive response must be visible so that the message was unmistakable.
Deterrence had to be ensured against future cross-border terror strikes.
Operational freedom was absolute, with forces told to prepare for possible escalation into a conventional conflict.
“The complete freedom given to us shortened our decision cycles. We were ready for every eventuality and kept pace with developments in real time,” Tiwari said.
The operation spanned four intense days of missile barrages, drone incursions, and artillery duels across the Line of Control. On May 10, IAF aircraft launched BrahMos-A air-launched cruise missiles, striking Pakistan Air Force bases at Chaklala near Rawalpindi and Sargodha in Punjab province. Later assessments confirmed further hits on bases at Jacobabad, Bholari, and Skardu, all of which hold strategic military value.
By the afternoon, Pakistan’s aggressive maneuvers had been blunted. At 1535 hrs IST, Pakistan’s DGMO, Major General Kashif Abdullah, placed a direct call to his Indian counterpart Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, marking the first step toward a ceasefire.
That evening, both sides agreed to halt hostilities across land, air, and sea. Yet, within hours, Pakistani drones were sighted over Srinagar and parts of Gujarat, prompting Indian forces to intercept them. New Delhi described these incidents as serious ceasefire violations, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stressing that India’s response remained “adequate and appropriate.”
Operation Sindoor, executed with precision and restraint, demonstrated that India could inflict deep strategic damage with minimal use of firepower. More importantly, it reaffirmed India’s doctrine: swift, visible, and controlled punishment for cross-border terrorism, with readiness for full-scale escalation if necessary.