IAF chief lists factors behind Operation Sindoor success: ‘Political will, clear directions and no restrictions’

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief AP Singh on Saturday asserted that the success of Operation Sindoor – India’s massive operation in the wake of April 22 Pahalgam terror attack – was rooted in “political will” and “clear directions” from the country’s top leadership.

The Air Chief’s remarks came while addressing an event in Bengaluru.

Notably, his statement also comes days after India’s defence attaché to Indonesia, Captain Shiv Kumar, said at a seminar that certain political restrictions had resulted in the loss of a few IAF fighter jets in Operation Sindoor.

“A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There were very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us... If there were any constraints, they were self-made,” Singh said, adding it was their decision whether to escalate or not.

“We had full freedom to plan and execute. Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it... There was a synchronisation between the three forces... The post of CDS made a real difference. He was there to get us together... NSA also played a big role in getting all the agencies,” the IAF chief added.

Singh also revealed that the Indian Armed Forces had destroyed at least five Pakistani fighter aircraft and one large aircraft during Operation Sindoor.

"We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," he said.

Listing other damages on Pakistan's defence capabilities, the Air Chief further said, "We were able to get at least two command and control centres, like Murid and Chaklala. At least six radars, some of them big, some of them small. Two SAGW systems that is in Lahore and Okara. We attacked three hangars. One was the Sukkur UAV hangar, the Bholari hangar and the Jacobabad F-16 hangar. We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there."

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, and targeted nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.