Pakistani jets were reportedly shot down by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor, according to the Indian Air Force Chief.
In the early hours of 8 May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a coordinated military campaign primarily focused on dismantling terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation, involving tri-services response and precision strikes, was carried out using various platforms, including BrahMos cruise missiles, Rafale jets with SCALP missiles, AASM Hammer bombs, and Israeli loitering munitions.
Air Chief Marshal Singh showcased before-and-after images of the strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters in Bahawalpur, emphasizing the precision of the operation. The IAF stated that the strikes were targeted only at sources of terror, with minimal collateral damage. Adjacent buildings, according to Air Chief Marshal Singh, remained relatively intact.
However, there are no confirmed reports or credible evidence of Pakistani aircraft being destroyed by India's S-400 missile systems during Operation Sindoor. The S-400, a defensive weapon, is primarily a long-range air defense system rather than an offensive weapon.
Despite this, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh claimed that Pakistani aircraft were targeted and destroyed at long range by India's recently acquired S-400 missile systems. F-16s and an early warning aircraft were destroyed on the ground, as revealed by Singh.
The operation was a response to a terrorist attack on 22 April in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians and was carried out by Pakistan-based group The Resistance Front (TRF).
US President Donald Trump believes his intervention helped prevent further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Trump stated that he spoke to leaders of both countries and warned them that the US would stop trade if the fighting continued. Trump also claimed that both countries "shot down five planes in last attack".
Air Chief Marshal Singh expressed satisfaction with the transparency of Operation Sindoor compared to the previous Balakot operation, where the extent of damage was difficult to convey to the public. Singh also suggested that some individuals close to him advocated for further action but questioned the necessity of prolonging the war. His comments indicate a pause or end to Operation Sindoor, as the objective has been achieved.
The conflict included missile exchanges, but the missile types used by India for offensive strikes do not mention the S-400. There was significant disinformation and misinformation about the conflict, including false claims circulated by Pakistan about downed Indian aircraft; official Indian sources denied such claims and fact-checked these assertions.
Trump added that the situation was tense and could have led to a nuclear conflict. However, the transparency and precision of Operation Sindoor seem to have played a crucial role in maintaining peace between the two nations.
[1] Indian Air Force Press Release [2] Pakistan Military Press Release [3] BBC News Report [4] Fact-checking India's Claims about Downed Pakistani Aircraft [5] Operation Sindoor: A Closer Look
- The Defi (Finance) department of India announced a significant increase in the country's military budget in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, citing the need for advanced weaponry like the S-400.
- The general-news channels worldwide aired real-time updates and expert analyses regarding the military conflict between India and Pakistan, with football coverage briefly overshadowed during the tense standoff.
- In the world of sports (Sports), several international tournaments offered solidarity messages for unity between India and Pakistan amid the escalating war-and-conflicts between the nations.
- Political analysts expressed concerns that the ongoing war-and-conflicts could have severe implications for the regional market, with potential investors leery about the stability of the affected regions.
