Op Sindoor | India lost 5 soldiers but all pilots back home; Pakistan lost 35-40 personnel: Armed Forces

They also said they downed a few Pakistani jets

New Delhi: All Indian Air Force pilots are back home safely after hitting frontline Pakistan Air Force bases inflicting heavy losses on Pakistan military, though India lost five soldiers in Operation Sindoor, top military officials said here on Sunday providing a detailed assessment of the actions, while noting that 35-40 Pakistani soldiers were killed on the LoC and a few enemy fighter jets may have been downed.

Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations at the India Army said a hotline message was again sent to Pakistan DGMO on Sunday highlighting last night’s ceasefire violations after reaching an understanding between the two DGMOs a few hours earlier. The two DGMOs are to talk on Monday to discuss the longevity of the truce arrangement.

“We messaged our firm and clear intent to respond to (ceasefire violations) if repeated tonight, subsequently or later. Our response will be fierce and punitive,” he said.

Lt Gen Ghai along with Air Marshal A K Bharti, Director General of Air Operations at the IAF and Vice Admiral A N Pramod, Director General of Naval Aviation at the Indian Navy briefed on the actions the Indian armed forces took since May 7 when Pakistan attacked Indian civilian and military installations using drones and other ammunition as a retaliation to India destroying nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pak-occupied Kashmir.

The briefing comes hours after Chief of the Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the security situation with the Army Commanders of the Western Borders and granted full authority to the Commanders for counter-action in the kinetic domain to any violation of the ceasefire understanding reached between the two DGMOs on Saturday.

On being asked about how many Pakistani planes were downed, Air Marshal Bharti said, “Their planes were prevented from entering inside our border. Definitely, we have downed a few planes. Definitely, there are losses on their side which we have inflicted, but I won’t put a figure at this time.”

Asked about speculations on India losing a Rafale aircraft in the conflict, he said, “We are in a combat situation and losses are part of combat. The question you must ask is have we achieved our objectives of decimating the terrorist camps, and the answer is a thumping yes, and the results are for the whole world to see.”

He did not provide any details of the aircraft or the types of weapons used in the operations, but asserted, “All our pilots are back home,” putting at rest rumours about Pakistan capturing an Indian pilot.

Air Marshal Bharti shows detailed video of the effects of India's Air Operations at air defence radars at Pasrur, Chunian and Arifwala besides the impacts on Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Chaklala (Nur Khan), Sukkur , Bholari and Jacobabad airfields. Among other things, Sargoda houses Pakistan’s F-16 aircraft.

Other Pakistan aviation targets included the command centre and UAV units at Murid, PAF base Rafiqui and radar installation at Lahore and Gujranwala.

On the loss from the Indian side, Lt Gen Ghai said, "I pay my solemn homage to my five fallen colleagues and brothers from the armed forces and civilians who tragically lost their lives in Operation Sindoor. Their sacrifice will always be remembered.” The names of the fallen soldiers were not disclosed at the briefing.

“The Pakistan Army has reported to have lost approximately 35 to 40 personal in artillery and small arms firing on the Line of Control between May 7-10. Our targets were terror-oriented and later, once they launched air intrusions and air operations on our infrastructure, we used heavier weapons and there would have been casualties, but those are still being assessed,” he said.

The three senior officers pointed out that India’s military action was initially targeted at terror camps, but the responses escalated after Pakistan hit the civilian and military sites with a wave of drone attacks including combat drones.

Lt Gen Ghai said over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudasir Ahmed, who were involved in the hijacking of IC 814 and the Pulwama blast, were eliminated during Operation Sindoor on May 7.

“The activities that have been going on for the last 3-4 days are no less than a war,” he added.