Ghai said Indian forces responded with “firm and robust” action against ceasefire violations and that the Chief of Army Staff had authorised commanders on the ground to take kinetic countermeasures if further violations occur.
Published May 11, 2025 | 9:03 PM ⚊ Updated May 11, 2025 | 9:03 PM
Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, and Director General of Military Operations, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai
Synopsis: Over 100 terrorists were killed in Indian air and artillery strikes during Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror hubs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan’s Punjab province, according to Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, India’s Director General of Military Operations. Speaking at a joint armed forces briefing on 11 May in New Delhi, Lt Gen Ghai said Pakistan requested a ceasefire on 10 May via a hotline message, but violated the agreement within hours by resuming cross-border attacks. He added that Indian commanders have been authorised to take “firm and robust” countermeasures in response to any further violations.
Over 100 terrorists were killed in precision air and artillery strikes across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and deep into Pakistan’s Punjab province during Operation Sindoor, according to India’s Director General of Military Operations, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai.
Speaking at a joint press briefing of armed forces in New Delhi on Sunday 11 May, Lt Gen Ghai said the strikes targeted nine terror hubs identified by intelligence agencies and resulted in the elimination of key figures involved in past attacks on India.
“The strikes on those nine terror hubs resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudassir Ahmed that were involved in the hijack of IC814 and the Pulwama blast,” he said.
Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, presented images of the strikes and described a sequence of coordinated operations that began on 7 May. He said the Indian Air Force had precisely targeted “terror camps” using guided munitions to avoid collateral damage.
He said Pakistan responded with drone and UAV attacks targeting Indian military bases and civilian areas but caused minimal damage.
“We achieved our objectives in this case as well,” Bharti said. “Our response was measured. It was designed to demonstrate capability and resolve, not to escalate.”
India said the Pakistani military reached out on the morning of 10 May through an established hotline, seeking a cessation of hostilities.
“I received a hotline message from my Pakistani counterpart expressing willingness to open communication… My communication with the Pakistani DGMO was held at 1535 hours on the 10th of May. It resulted in an agreement to cease all cross-border firing and air intrusions by both sides, effective 1700 hours that same day, following a proposal from the Pakistani side to halt hostilities,” said Lt Gen Ghai.
“It took only a few hours for the Pakistan Army to violate this agreement. They resumed cross-border firing across the Line of Control, followed by drone intrusions across wide swathes of the Western Front, through the night and into the early hours of this morning.”
He continued: “There have been certain attempts on the Line of Control when ceasefire violations have occurred, in efforts to infiltrate and perpetrate activities that we are all very familiar with. Whether these are by terrorists, the Pakistan Army, or its special forces and commandos is difficult to say, but each of these has been effectively thwarted.”
Ghai said Indian forces responded with “firm and robust” action and that the Chief of Army Staff had authorised commanders on the ground to take kinetic countermeasures if further violations occur.
“We have, earlier today, sent another hotline message to my counterpart highlighting these violations of the understanding between the DGMOs on May 10 and our firm and clear intent to respond to these fiercely and punitively, if repeated tonight subsequently or later. The Chief of Army Staff has earlier today conducted a security review and has granted full authority to our Army Commanders for counteractions in the kinetic domain in case of any violation by Pakistan,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
