Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, who served as Director General of Air Operations during Operation Sindoor, on Thursday stated that Indian forces shot down 13 Pakistani aircraft and damaged 11 Pakistani airfields during the military operation conducted last year. Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur on the first anniversary of the operation, the Deputy Chief of Air Staff said the mission also destroyed nine terrorist hideouts inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), while ensuring zero damage to Indian civilian or military infrastructure.

Key Achievements Claimed

According to Air Marshal Bharti, the operation was carried out with complete operational freedom granted to the armed forces, with every strategic decision taken jointly by the Army, Navy, and Air Force leadership. He described the strikes as targeted exclusively at terrorist infrastructure and their support networks. "We targeted only those elements while ensuring there was no collateral damage. We achieved our objectives and our mission was complete," he said.

Why India Agreed to Pause Hostilities

Addressing one of the most pointed questions at the press conference — why India agreed to a cessation of hostilities — Air Marshal Bharti said the operation's objectives had been fully met before the pause. "I fully understand the anger and emotions of our people, especially the younger generation, given our past experiences with Pakistan," he acknowledged. He clarified that the situation escalated when the Pakistani establishment chose to "side with terror" and make the conflict its own fight. "At that point, it was no longer merely a counter-terrorism operation; it became an act of self-defense. Our response was lethal and ruthless," he stated. According to him, following significant losses, Pakistan sought cessation of hostilities. "We paused when the request came, we stepped back, but we didn't blink. We had delivered the clear message that misadventure will not go unanswered. Acts of terror will carry consequences," he said.

The Strategic Doctrine Behind the Operation

Air Marshal Bharti underlined that nations forced into conflict must always have a conflict termination strategy. "Otherwise one can go astray and not realise how to terminate the fight," he cautioned. He also stressed that Operation Sindoor reaffirmed the primacy of air power — encompassing all three services, not just the Indian Air Force. "When our desire for peace is mistaken for weakness, we have no choice but to act. And when we act, there is no room for leniency. It is decisive, lethal and translates into Operation Sindoor," he said.

India's Intelligence Advantage Going Forward

The Deputy Chief of Air Staff asserted that terrorists hiding in Pakistan now have reason to be concerned, as the operation provided India with first-hand confirmation of its adversary's capabilities, capacities, and tactics. "We now have first-hand confirmation of the capabilities, capacities and tactics," he said, adding that India is now able to "see through its adversary." This intelligence dividend, he suggested, represents a lasting strategic gain beyond the immediate military outcomes. As Operation Sindoor completes its first year, the Indian military's public accounting of the mission's results signals that New Delhi views the operation as a benchmark for future responses to cross-border terrorism.