Editors Desk
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, India’s Director General of Military Operations, said on Tuesday that Pakistan likely lost more than 100 soldiers along the Line of Control during Operation Sindoor. He based this on a list of posthumous awards that Pakistan’s military released. He also repeated recent claims by India’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh, that Pakistan lost at least 12 aircraft during the May fighting. Lt Gen Ghai added that the Indian Navy was ready to act, and if Pakistan had continued the attacks the situation could have become disastrous for Pakistan not only at sea but in other ways as well. Describing the clashes of May 7–10, Lt Gen Ghai said Pakistan began cross-border firing right after India struck nine terrorist targets on May 7. He suggested that Pakistan’s own awards list which came out on August 14 revealed a high number of posthumous medals and thus indicated heavy casualties on their side. He said India’s goal had been to hit terrorist infrastructure, not to escalate unless forced to. But Pakistan’s immediate firing after the strikes led to a wider confrontation. Lt Gen Ghai described Pakistan’s attempts to use drones against India as a failure. He said Pakistan used different types of drones to try to cause damage, even after the two countries’ DGMOs had talked, but those attacks failed. As a result of the drone and other attacks, the Indian Air Force carried out precision strikes on Pakistani installations on the night between May 9 and 10. Lt Gen Ghai said India damaged 11 air bases, hit eight airfields, three hangars and four radar sites, and destroyed Pakistani aircraft on the ground. He listed Pakistan’s losses as including one C-130 type transport aircraft, one AEW&C (airborne early warning) plane, and about four to five fighter jets. He also said there were aerial losses and noted a very long-range ground-to-air kill at more than 300 kilometres, which hit five advanced fighters. Operation Sindoor began on May 7 after the Pahalgam terror attack. India targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistani-controlled areas. The strikes led to four days of heavy fighting, which stopped after both sides agreed to halt military actions on May 10. Lt Gen Ghai also said India tracked down and killed the three terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack in June. He said it took 96 days of effort, but the Army kept searching until they were found and eliminated. When found, the terrorists appeared exhausted and malnourished, he added. Finally, Lt Gen Ghai said India has changed its approach to dealing with terror. He quoted the Prime Minister’s three key points, terror attacks are acts of war and will receive decisive retaliation; India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats; and there will be no distinction between terrorists and those who sponsor them.