Following the attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India launched Operation Sindoor. Lieutenant General Prateek Sharma described how India successfully countered Pakistan during the operation. Indian forces fired over 30,000 artillery and mortar shells, along with more than 300,000 rounds of small arms fire across the Line of Control in response to Pakistan’s ceasefire violations from May 7th to 10th. He stated that India responded with three to four rounds for every round fired by Pakistan. He also accused Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir of provoking terrorists and the Pakistani military, which led to the start of Operation Sindoor after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
Air Marshal Narmadeshwar Tiwari mentioned that India’s strikes on Pakistani air bases and radar sites with fewer than 50 weapons forced Pakistan to call for a ceasefire. He pointed out how easy it is to initiate war but how hard it is to finish it. He also shared videos and satellite imagery showing the damage to terrorist and military infrastructure in Pakistan.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) used Sukhoi-30MKI, Rafale, and Mirage-2000 fighter jets, armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, as well as Crystal Maze-2, Rampage, and SCALP missiles to conduct precision strikes. The targets included Pakistani airfields, radar sites, and locations near nuclear facilities and command and control structures.
Both officials clarified that the political mandate was to conduct targeted strikes to minimize damage while accounting for potential escalation, and to instill a deterrent message within the Pakistani military. The armed forces were given full operational autonomy to achieve this.
Lieutenant-General Sharma added that the Pahalgam massacre occurred shortly after a provocative speech by Munir on April 16, in which he referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s jugular vein based on the two-nation theory. He stated that the speech was an incitement to terrorists and the Pakistani army.
Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April, which resulted in 26 deaths, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. India targeted nine terrorist locations in Pakistan, leading to a ceasefire agreement on May 10.
