Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 31: In an unprecedented move, the Indian Air Force has officially confirmed and shared key details of Operation Sindoor—a series of calculated military strikes carried out in retaliation to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. Speaking at the defence summit, cice chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari revealed that the mission, kept under wraps until now, involved precision air strikes on terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Planning for the operation began almost immediately after the attack. By April 24, top-level reviews of contingency plans were underway. Within days, nine high-value targets had been selected, and the strikes were scheduled for May 5. Over the next four days—between May 6 and May 9—Indian forces launched a series of tightly coordinated strikes aimed at crippling terror infrastructure across the border.

Tiwari highlighted the operation’s scale and efficiency: fewer than 50 weapons were used to neutralize all nine targets. The strategy emphasized not just speed and precision but also deterrence and operational dominance. “The objective was conflict elimination,” he said, underlining the mission’s success in sending a strong message without escalating into full-scale war.

Pakistan responded with attempted strikes on Indian military installations on May 8, 9, and 10—actions that were swiftly countered by Indian forces, who targeted multiple Pakistani military assets in retaliation. The exchange of drone and missile fire continued for four days until both countries agreed to de-escalate on May 10.

This public acknowledgment marks a rare instance of India openly discussing its covert military responses, signaling a shift towards greater transparency in defence operations. Air Marshal Tiwari described the operation as a model of strategic restraint paired with decisive force.

Also speaking at the summit, defence minister Rajnath Singh introduced the Sudarshan Chakra initiative—a new push to enhance India’s air defence and strike capabilities. The announcement comes in the wake of provocative remarks from Pakistan’s Army Chief, hinting at future aggression.

Operation Sindoor not only represents a new benchmark in India’s military doctrine—blending speed, precision, and psychological warfare—but also reaffirms the country's readiness to act decisively in the face of terrorism, while maintaining strategic balance.