The comments come amid international reports suggesting that India may have lost aircraft during the operation. Meanwhile, Air Marshal AK Bharti further accused Pakistan of launching drone attacks from near Lahore while continuing to operate civilian and international passenger flights out of the same area.
Published May 11, 2025 | 9:04 PM ⚊ Updated May 11, 2025 | 9:08 PM
Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations,
Synopsis: Air Marshal AK Bharti declined to confirm any aircraft losses during Operation Sindoor, citing operational security, but insisted that all IAF pilots had returned safely and that the mission’s objectives were fully achieved.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has refused to confirm whether any of its fighter jets were lost during Operation Sindoor, but stated that all its pilots have returned safely following a week of high-intensity operations against cross-border terrorist targets.
Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, responded to direct questions about aircraft losses during a joint briefing of the armed forces in New Delhi on Sunday, 11 May.
“In a combat scenario, losses are a part of combat. The question that you must ask us – and indeed that we must ask ourselves – is: have we achieved our objectives? Have we achieved our objective of decimating the terrorist camp? And the answer is a thumping yes. The results are for the whole world to see,” he said.
“As for the details – what could have been, how many numbers, on which platforms did we lose? You know, at this time, I would not like to comment on that, because we are still in a combat situation. And if I comment on anything, it would only advantage the adversary.”
He continued: “So we do not want to give him any advantage at this stage. All I can say is that we have achieved our objectives, the ones we selected, and all are on track.”
Operation Sindoor, launched in the aftermath of the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, involved coordinated air and artillery strikes on nine terror training camps across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan’s Punjab province.
The comments come amid international reports suggesting that India may have lost aircraft during the operation.
French and United States officials have reportedly assessed Indian aircraft losses, while the independent news outlet The Wire was briefly blocked after carrying a CNN report on the subject.
Air Marshal AK Bharti further accused Pakistan of launching drone attacks from near Lahore while continuing to operate civilian and international passenger flights out of the same area.
“While the drone attacks were being launched from areas near Lahore, the adversary simultaneously allowed civilian aircraft to continue operating out of Lahore – this included both domestic and international passenger flights,” he said.
“Such actions are highly irresponsible and insensitive. Despite the tactical disadvantage it posed, we exercised extreme restraint to avoid any harm to civilian aircraft.”
Meanwhile, Air Bharti further stated that India’s air defence systems successfully intercepted most of the aerial threats launched by Pakistan in retaliation for Operation Sindoor, and that damage was minimal.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
