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Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Fighting words
Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. LESS ... MORE Losses are inevitable in military ops. India's done the correct thing by acknowledging them In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies, Churchill said in WWII. Like tennis, where you can lose back-to-back sets and still win the match, war has its ups and downs, and it's good policy not to let the lows affect public morale. America knew it was losing Vietnam but never admitted it, until the 1971 Pentagon Papers leak. It never got a grip on Afghanistan in 20 years, but for the longest time maintained it had. In contrast, India has been surprisingly candid about its losses in Op Sindoor. While Pakistan claimed it had shot down five IAF jets on May 7 – the night raid that launched Op Sindoor – India neither confirmed nor denied it at the time. But shortly after the May 10 ceasefire, Air Marshal AK Bharti told a press conference, 'We are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat.' And three weeks on, CDS Gen Anil Chauhan has more or less ended the suspense: 'What I can say is that on May 7, in the initial stages, there were losses.' But not six planes, as Pakistan is now claiming. This acknowledgment is a measure of India's morale. The country does not need to cover up because Op Sindoor achieved all its objectives. As for making a full disclosure, that can wait till the operation is over – it's only suspended post-ceasefire. Besides, as the CDS said, more than the numbers, what mattered was the reasons for the losses, and a course correction, which India made. India's official responses may have seemed slow, but they adhered to facts. Dangers of the alternative – unverified claims – were brought home on May 8 when some TV channels abdicated all journalistic responsibility and spread wild untruths. While it might have seemed patriotic to those in front of the cameras, it only increased the military's burden. The CDS said 15% of operational time during Op Sindoor was spent countering fake narratives and disinformation. Later, the audience's unreasonable expectations, stoked by disinformation, resulted in the vicious trolling of foreign secretary Vikram Misri, who along with Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh had been the face of India's factual and measured media response during the hostilities. If Op Sindoor proved one thing, it's that riding the tiger of disinformation is always folly. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
India defence chief says at least one jet downed in Pakistan conflict
India's defence chief on Saturday appeared to confirm his country had lost at least one aircraft during the brief conflict with Pakistan earlier this month, he told Bloomberg in an interview. India and Pakistan were engaged in a four-day conflict this month, their worst standoff since 1999, before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire on both sides. Pakistan claimed its Chinese-supplied jets had shot down six Indian aircraft. India's chief of defence staff, General Anil Chauhan, called Pakistan's claims that it shot down six Indian warplanes "absolutely incorrect". But Chauhan, when pressed as to whether India had lost any jets, appeared to confirm New Delhi had lost an unspecified number of aircraft -- without giving details. "I think, what is important is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down," he told Bloomberg TV, speaking on the sidelines of Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting in Singapore. There was no immediate response from New Delhi. On May 11, a day after the ceasefire, India's Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, speaking to reporters, had said that "all our pilots are back home", adding that "we are in a combat scenario, and that losses are a part of combat". A senior security source told AFP three Indian jets had crashed on home soil without giving the make or cause. But until the comments on Saturday, India had not officially confirmed any of its aircraft were lost. "The good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets, again targeting at long range," Chauhan added, speaking to Bloomberg. "Why they were down -- that is more important for us, and what did we do after that", he added. The recent conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, the deadliest on civilians in the contested Muslim-majority territory in decades. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing the Islamist militants it said carried out the attack, charges that Pakistan denied.
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Did Pakistan down Indian jet during May conflict? What CDS Anil Chauhan said
Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, recently responded to a question on whether Pakistan had downed an Indian jet during the conflict with Pakistan in May. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Gen Anil Chauhan didn't deny the claim and said, 'What is important is not the jet being down, but why they were being downed.' CDS Anil Chauhan disputed Pakistan's claim that it shot down six Indian jets, but declined to specify how many were lost. He said India swiftly rectified its "tactical mistakes" and resumed high-precision strikes deep in Pakistani territory. He said, 'What mistakes were made — those are important. Numbers are not important. The good part is that we were able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew our jets again, targeting at long range.' The CDC called Pakistan's claims of shooting down six Indian fighters 'absolutely incorrect.' CDS Anil Chauhan made the comments when he was asked during the interview about the May 7-10 military clash between India and Pakistan. After Indian launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, reports in international media claimed that a Rafale fighter jet was downed by Pakistan. Responding to the claims at a press conference on May 11, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations (DGAO), had said that 'losses are a part of any combat scenario.' 'I am happy you asked these questions. We are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of it. Question is have we achieved our objective? Answer is a thumping yes," Air Marshal AK Bharti when he was asked about reports regarding Rafale jets.. He added, 'As for details, at this time I would not like to comment on that as we are still in combat and give advantage to adversary. All our pilots are back home.' India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting at least nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Kashmir Terrorism History Part 8: Operation Sindoor, India's Strikes on Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack
In the concluding part of our series, we revisit India's bold strikes on Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack Advertisement April 22, 2025, Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir The Baisaran Valley, a serene meadow nestled in the Pir Panjal range, was alive with the hum of tourists. In the distance, the Lidder River danced its way to the Kashmir Valley. The air was ripe with the smell of pine trees and saffron-laced steaming kahwa. But in the shadows of the dense forest, a sinister plot was brewing. Around 3:15 PM, the peace shattered. As masked terrorists sprayed bullets at tourists, the staccato rhythm of gunfire rose through the woods. It mingled with cries for help and wails of mourners, shrouding the meadow in surreal horror. By the time the dust settled, 26 civilians lay dead, their blood staining the lush green grass. Among the dead were men, shot at point blank range in front of their wives, wiping out the symbol of Hindu women's honour–their sindoor. The attack, claimed by a fringe terror group, was a cowardly strike on innocent tourists, with the goal of destabilising India's fragile northern frontier. The nation mourned its martyrs. In New Delhi, the wheels of retribution were already turning. May 7, 2025, 12:45AM IST In a dimly lit operations room, Air Marshal AK Bharti pointed his baton at satellite imagery of nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In a voice forged in fire, he identified the targets—Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, Markaz Taiba in Muridke, and others—as hubs for Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). The three terror groups, based in and nurtured by Pakistan, had been striking with impunity in India. It was time, a grim-faced Bharti announced, for payback. Pakistan had been given enough opportunities to pull down the jihadist infrastructure. From diplomacy to surgical strikes, India had tried everything. But Islamabad was unwilling to mend its ways. The clock was ticking. Pakistan's inaction against these groups had forced India's hand. 'Operation Sindoor is green,' Bharti announced, his voice steady. The mission was precise: neutralise the terrorist infrastructure without hitting Pakistani military or civilian sites. India's message was clear—retribution for Pahalgam, but no damage to civilians. On cue, pilots of the Indian Air Force strapped into Sukhoi and Rafale jets loaded with SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer glide bombs. At 1:05 AM, the jets roared into the night sky, their noses scything through the darkness toward their targets. The wrath of India was about to fall on Pakistan. 1:30 AM IST, Across the Border Chief of the Pakistan Army, General Asim Munir, was woken up by an urgent call. It was raining mayhem, a terrified voice croaked on a secure line. 'Detail?' Munir's voice froze. 'In Bahawalpur, a missile struck Markaz Subhan Allah, reducing JeM's training compound to rubble. Simultaneously, explosions lit up Muridke, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. The strikes, lasting just 25 minutes, were surgical,' the caller stuttered. His eyes groggy with disbelief, Munir rubbed them till they were red. But the image, he realised, wasn't a nightmare. It was all happening in Pakistan. Within minutes, Islamabad was counting its losses. Over 100 terrorists, including masterminds of the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama attack, were killed. The jihadi training spots in nine places had been obliterated. 1:30 AM, IST, India Satellite feeds relayed real-time imagery of Op Sindoor: burning structures, collapsed infra, and chaos in terror camps. The Indian Air Force had broken the back of Pakistan's terror modules, setting its jihadi agenda back by many years. At 1:45 AM, the Indian Ministry of Defence announced: 'Operation Sindoor has successfully targeted terrorist infrastructure responsible for the Pahalgam attack. This is a calibrated counter-terror measure.' In New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted on X: 'Bharat Mata ki Jai.' His salutation ignited a wave of national pride. Across the border, Pakistan was seething with the fire of revenge. The subcontinent was perched on a precipice. 3:00 AM IST, Rawalpindi, Pakistan The room buzzed with excitement and a sense of doom as Lieutenant Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, head of Inter-Services Public Relations, faced a barrage of questions, cameras whirring at frenetic pace. His face was grim as he announced India's strikes had killed 31 civilians—and a mosque had been erased. In a statement shortly after the Indian strikes, ISPR said all planes of the Pakistan Air Force were airborne. 'All strikes were made by India from its own airspace. Pakistan will respond to it at a time and place of its own choosing. It will not go unanswered. The temporary pleasure of India will be replaced by enduring grief,' Pakistan stated. Advertisement Indian officials swiftly countered, releasing OSINT evidence showing only terrorist sites were hit. The mosque, they clarified, was a JeM den. By 4:00 AM, Pakistan closed its airspace, grounding commercial flights. India followed, suspending air traffic in northern cities like Srinagar and Amritsar. Along the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistani forces opened fire in the Uri sector, killing Indian civilians. The escalation was swift and deliberate. After a hiatus of 26 years post Kargil, the two neighbours were ready for another armed conflict. 10:00 AM IST, New Delhi Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stood at a podium, flanked by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. A map projected behind them smoldering ruins of terror camps. 'Operation Sindoor was a response to Pakistan's failure to act against terrorism,' Misri declared. 'We have no quarrel with Pakistan's people or military. But we will not tolerate terror.' As Misri spoke, Pakistan's disinformation campaign kicked into high gear. ISPR claimed strikes on 15 Indian targets, including Srinagar Airbase. Social media was flooded with grainy videos of explosions, but India's Press Information Bureau debunked them as recycled footage from Pakistan's internal clashes. May 7-10, LoC Pakistan's retaliation intensified. Drone swarms, armed with explosives, crossed into Indian airspace, targeting Indian cities. Indian S-400 systems roared to life, blowing up the drones mid-flight. The debris of shredded drones rained over Punjab and Rajasthan, sparking fires but no fatalities. Pakistan then launched Fatah-series missiles, aiming for Indian military sites. Most were intercepted. In response, Indian jets struck a Pakistani air defense system in Lahore and an aircraft hangar. The strikes, confirmed at 8:00 AM on May 8, were a warning. 'Pakistan's escalatory actions are reckless. We urge restraint but are prepared for any eventuality,' Misri announced. There was panic in Pakistan. On the intervening night of May 9-10, around 2:30 AM, General Munir called Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through a secure phone. 'India has launched its ballistic missiles. One has landed at the Nur Khan airbase and some at other areas,' Prime Minister Sharif was to accept later in a public address. The LoC bore the brunt of violence. Pakistani shelling in Poonch and Kupwara killed 12 Indian civilians and one soldier. Drones—300 to 400 in total—swarmed Indian airspace, targeting military and civilian sites. In Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, lights were put out as sirens blazed through the night. The iconic Golden Temple in Amritsar was dipped in darkness as intelligence inputs warned of a plot to destroy the shrine, blaming it on India. In Ferozpur, a downed drone sparked a fire, injuring three. Indian forces, stretched but resolute, neutralised Pakistani missiles and reportedly shot down an F-16 near Pathankot, though confirmation was pending. In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened the Cabinet Committee on Security. 'Operation Sindoor is our new doctrine,' he said. 'Terror will meet swift justice.' The strikes had exposed Pakistan's vulnerabilities—its Chinese air defenses were no match for India's BrahMos missiles and Rafale jets. But the cost was rising. In the early hours of May 10, Pakistan announced its counter-strike: Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos. Missiles launched from Pakistan headed for targets in India, mainly airbases. The damage yet again was limited. But the specter of an all-out war, with nuclear escalation, loomed. May 10, 2025, 5:00 PM IST As the subcontinent braced for another night of horror, blackouts and air strikes, a breakthrough came unexpectedly. US President Donald Trump, via Truth Social, announced a ceasefire. 'India and Pakistan agree to stand down. No more bloodshed!' he posted. In the background, military hotlines buzzed as both sides halted operations. May 11–13, India On May 11, the Indian Army reported a quiet night along the LoC, but tensions simmered. A senior official clarified: 'Sindoor is on pause, not ended.' On May 12, Bharti briefed the media, revealing the Navy's role and the operation's success in avoiding civilian casualties. We hit what we aimed for—'terrorists, not innocents,' he said. On May 13, India released before-and-after satellite imagery, showing obliterated terrorist camps and damaged Pakistani military sites like Noor Khan airbase. With the immediate goal achieved, Modi addressed the nation 'Operation Sindoor is India's policy now. No terrorist will find safe haven. Every terror attack will now be treated as an act of war.' May 14, 2025, New Delhi In a final briefing, Misri detailed how India's indigenous BrahMos missiles and Rafale jets had outmaneuvered Pakistan's defenses. Pakistan's retaliatory PL-15 missiles and Turkish-style drones had been neutralised, a testament to India's air defence systems. The clashes also exposed Pakistan and its allies, both covert and overt. The world took note: India had redefined counter-terrorism, striking hard but avoiding all-out war. The Aftermath: An Uneasy Calm Across the border, Pakistan licked its wounds, its terrorist proxies crippled, military exposed. But its leaders refused to accept the damage—announcing defiance and victory that sounds like a parody. Pahalgam's scars remain. But Operation Sindoor has sent a loud message: India will no longer wait for justice. It will deliver it swiftly, on a war footing. The days of diplomacy on terror are over. Operation Sindoor, named after the vermilion mark married women apply on their forehead, has reshaped India's stance. Terror would no longer go unanswered. But in the shadow of the Himalayas, peace remains a fragile hope. Kashmir continues to be Pakistan's festering dream. Its terror groups continue to treat it as the cause for their existence. The Valley has come a long way from Pakistan's early attempts at infiltration, and jihad through proxies. (See previous parts ). The stakes continue to rise as Pakistan directs its frustration at Kashmir, while India's tolerance for terror keeps coming down. Will the peace hold? Or, will Pakistan test India's resolve again with another sinister plan? After eight decades of violence, terror and wars, the Valley's fate hangs on a slender thread of hope. The tenuous hope that Pakistan will move on from the past, and accept Kashmir as an inseparable part of India. For the next Pakistani misadventure in Kashmir will be an existential threat for Islamabad, and a disaster for the subcontinent. (The series is concluded.)
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Words of War: GBU-57 Massive Ordinance Penetrator
When we talk about non-nuclear bombs, there is perhaps nothing that comes close to the US Air Force's GBU-57, a 12-tonne monster also known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). It's the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the US this isn't your typical explosive. The MOP isn't designed to flatten buildings. It's designed to burrow through them — deep underground, into fortified enemy bunkers. In military speak, it's a true 'bunker buster.' advertisementWHY IS THIS RELEVANT NOW?Because during Operation Sindoor -- India's recent military operation targeting terror hubs and installations inside Pakistan -- one name kept surfacing: Kirana Hills. Located in Pakistan's Punjab province, the Kirana Hills have long been suspected of housing underground nuclear storage and command the Indian Air Force has denied striking the area. In a recent press briefing, Air Marshal AK Bharti even went so far as to say he wasn't aware of any such facility at Kirana Hills. But a subtle smirk on his face while saying so has only fueled A STRIKE HAD if India had targeted fortified underground bunkers -- such as those believed to exist at Kirana Hills -- it would require a bomb with deep-penetration the GBU-57 by BoeingWeighs over 13,000 kgCarries 2,500 kg of explosivesCan penetrate up to 60 metres underground — roughly the height of a 20-storey buildingMeasures over six metres longThis bomb was made specifically for underground targets like hardened bunkers, tunnel complexes, or nuclear ABOUT INDIA?advertisementIndia doesn't possess a bomb on the scale of the GBU-57. However, it does have access to bunker-busting precision the 2019 Balakot airstrike, India deployed Israeli SPICE-2000 munitions — which are designed to explode inside structures, maximizing internal Rafale jets are also equipped with HAMMER missiles, including variants capable of hitting fortified be clear, there is no official confirmation that Kirana Hills were struck during Operation Sindoor. And the Indian Air Force has denied any such Reel
