Operation Sindoor: US warfare expert says Pakistan's claims failed scrutiny
A leading American urban warfare expert has concluded that Pakistan's narrative of early air victories during India's Operation Sindoor did not withstand independent scrutiny, with a Swiss military study confirming that the Pakistan Air Force was increasingly outmatched across the 88-hour air campaign from 7 to 10 May 2025. The assessment, published on Wednesday, offers India rare external validation of its military objectives.
Background: What Triggered Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was launched in direct response to the 22 April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 tourists after identifying their religion. On 7 May 2025, India struck nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, initiating what would become a four-day aerial confrontation.
What the US Expert Found
John Spencer, Executive Director of the US-based Urban Warfare Institute, writing for the American platform Substack, noted that even a year after the opening strikes, claims of downed Indian aircraft and early Pakistani achievements continue to circulate in international media. Spencer observed that in India–Pakistan clashes, Pakistan has historically shaped the information space through exaggerated or unverified claims.
