Took care of ghost of Balakot: Air Force chief on evidence of Op Sindoor success

India Today

3 days ago

In a veiled attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Saturday said Operation Sindoor had given India's defence forces the chance to show clear proof of the damage it inflicted - something it could not do after the 2019 Balakot strike. He said Operation Sindoor had finally 'taken care of that ghost'.advertisementAir Chief Marshal Singh's remarks come amid Opposition leaders seeking clarification over Operation Sindoor. Leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, have questioned the government's handling of the mission, sought clarity on the number of terrorists killed, and alleged political directives limited the Air Force's options.Last week, Rahul Gandhi said in Parliament that pilots were sent in 'without allowing them to neutralise' Pakistan's air defence systems, calling it a case of 'tying their hands behind their backs'.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Saturday laid out evidence of the damage India inflicted on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.'In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we had been able to achieve,' he said at an event in Bengaluru. 'We had intelligence of what had gone on inside a very clear picture that there had been huge damage, that so many terrorists had been neutralised. But we could not convince our own people. So I'm very happy that this time we were able to tell the world what we have achieved.'Operation Sindoor, which involved high-intensity strikes over 80 to 90 hours, achieved 'so much damage' that Pakistan sought talks to halt the conflict, Air Chief Marshal Singh said. 'They came forward and sent a message to our DGMO that they wanted to talk. This was accepted on our side.'Backing the government's decision to pause the operation, Singh said, 'People got down to their egos in the war. Our objective was very clear – to teach terrorists a lesson so they think twice before doing anything. Once we achieved that, we should have looked for all windows of opportunity to stop. Some people very close to me said, 'Aur maarna tha'. But can we continue to be at war? Why should we be at war when we can stop it?'Singh also detailed the Air Force's offensive capability during the operation, noting that none of Pakistan's aircraft came close to India's air defence range. 'That night we didn't have any hold bar. We would stretch resources to give him the indication that we can attack deep inside, at will. Bholari, an AEW&C hangar, was attacked and we have a very clear hint there was an aircraft in sight when this attack took place,' he said.advertisementReacting to the Air Chief Marshal's statement, BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the Opposition of undermining the forces. 'Imagine — our brave armed forces risk their lives in #OperationSindoor, deliver a crushing blow to terror, and yet face doubt from within the country. The Opposition and Rahul Gandhi in particular owe an apology,' he said in a post on X.The Balakot strike of February 2019 followed the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. While the government maintained that a large number of terrorists were killed, Opposition leaders at the time sought proof, with some citing conflicting media reports.- EndsMust Watch