In a historic revelation, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has officially confirmed that during Operation Sindoor—launched on 7 May 2025 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack—the IAF not only neutralised terrorist infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and PoK, but also achieved one of the most decisive air defence victories in recent history.
Speaking at the 16th Annual Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Lecture in Bengaluru, ACM Singh disclosed that five Pakistani fighter jets and one AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) aircraft were destroyed at long ranges by IAF’s S-400 Triumf air defence system. In addition, an F-16 stationed at Pakistan’s Jacobabad Air Base was obliterated in a record-breaking intercept—marking the first time in aviation history that an enemy aircraft was destroyed by a missile at a distance of 300 km.
Satellite imagery presented by the IAF Chief revealed the total destruction of the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters in Bahawalpur, with surrounding civilian structures left intact—a precision strike that underscored India’s technological edge. The IAF also obtained inside visual evidence of the obliterated facility via local media sources.
A High-Tech, Decisive Campaign
Operation Sindoor, described by ACM Singh as a “high-tech war,” lasted 80–90 hours and targeted nine terrorist hideouts in PoK and Pakistan, eliminating over 100 terrorists. The IAF’s advanced capabilities forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire through backchannel communication to India’s DGMO, aware that continuation would invite even heavier losses.
The operation was a direct retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists. It demonstrated India’s readiness to conduct precise, high-intensity strikes while minimising collateral damage.
Pakistani Narrative Collapses
In the immediate aftermath, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir claimed that multiple Indian aircraft had been shot down. However, they later retracted these statements, admitting that no Indian fighters had entered their airspace—an indirect acknowledgment of the IAF’s stand-off strike dominance.
The revelations from the IAF Chief not only expose the collapse of Pakistan’s official narrative but also cement Operation Sindoor as a benchmark in modern air warfare, where cutting-edge air defence, intelligence fusion, and precision strike capability decisively altered the balance of the conflict.
