Pity that Pakistan military chose to intervene & bat for terrorists, says Air Marshal Bharti: Top quotes from Operation Sindoor special briefing

Air Marshal AK Bharti

Air Marshal AK Bharti on Monday reiterated that Operation Sindoor, which India launched in the wee hours of May 7, targeted only terrorists and terror infrastructure. He deplored Pakistan military's intervention and support for terrorists.

"India's fight was against terrorists and terror infrastructure ... It was not with Pakistani military. It is a pity that Pak military chose to intervene and back the terrorists, which compelled us to respond in kind," the DIG Air Operations, IAF said addressing a special defence briefing on India-Pakistan military action.

Air Marshal highlighted how it was impossible for enemies (Pakistan) to breach Indian air defence system which acted as a wall. "Our battle-proven systems stood the test of time and take them head on. Another highlight has been the stellar performance of the indigenous air defence system, the Akash system. Putting together and operationalising the potent AD environment has been possible only because of budgetary and policy support from the government of India in the last decade," he added.

Here are the top quotes from the special military briefing:

• Numerous waves of drones and unmanned combat aerial vehicles employed by Pakistan were also thwarted by the indigenously developed soft and hard kill counter-UAS systems and the well-trained Indian Air Defence personnel.
• Our fight was against terror infrastructure and terrorists and not with the Pakistan military or Pakistan civilians. But Pak military chose to support terrorists and widened the conflict.
• India's integrated air command and control thwarted Pak military offensives. Highlight has been the stellar performance of the indigenous air defence system, the Akash system.
• Our airfields are operational by all means. The air defence grid failed attack launched by Pakistani drones and weaponised UAVs. Rest of the drones were shot down by our shoulder-fired weapons.
• BSF was an equal participant in our response. From the DG to the very last jawan on the border, everyone actively participated in this operation. They stood shoulder to shoulder with us.
• Targeting our airfields and logistics is way too tough ... I saw that Virat Kohli has just retired from test cricket; he is one of my favourites. In the 1970s, during the Ashes between Australia and England, two Australian bowlers destroyed the batting lineup of England, and then Australia gave a proverb  - "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must". If you see the layers, you'll understand what I am trying to say. Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you.
• Whether it's a Turkish drone or a drone from somewhere else, our counter-UA system and Air Defence operators are very much capable. We are ready to counter any kind of technology. You all saw what we have done to them.
• All our military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational and ready to undertake any future mission, should the need so arise.
• Indian Navy operates as a composite network force capable of simultaneously addressing threats from all domains - air, surface and subsurface - through amalgamation of advanced sensors synchronized on the combat management systems. In effect, the maritime force is able to ensure persistent surveillance, detection and identification for a comprehensive maritime domain awareness.
• The Indian Navy compelled Pakistani air assets to remain bottled up in Makran Coast.
• We are maintaining continuous surveillance to degrade or neutralise threats as they emerge or manifest to ensure targeting at extended ranges. All these are conducted under the umbrella of a comprehensive and effective layered fleet air defence mechanism that caters for all threats, be it drones, high-speed missiles or aircraft, both fighters as well as surveillance aircraft.
• This was a different kind of warfare ... God forbid, if we fight another war, that would be completely different from this one. It is a cat-and-mouse game, and we need to be ahead of the curve to beat the adversary.