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India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Inside Operation Sindoor: How IAF Blinded, Numbed, Paralysed PAF; Pushed It 5 Years Back
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) dramatically altered the balance of aerial power in South Asia earlier this month with a swift and calculated military operation against Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalham terror attack. Over the course of just four days, Indian strikes rendered Pakistan's air capabilities ineffective and set them back by at least five years, claimed top defense sources involved in the mission. Codenamed as Operation Sindoor, the strikes were launched following a missile attack by Pakistan in retaliation to Indian strikes on terror infrastructure in Bahawalpur and Muridke on May 6 and 7. But what followed next was a meticulously planned and precisely executed counter-offensive by the Indian forces that left Pakistan's Air Force 'disoriented', 'blinded' and, in military terms, 'paralysed'. The conflict escalated on the intervening night of May 9 and 10. Armed with an arsenal of stand-off weapons, including air-launched cruise missiles and loitering munitions, Indian aircraft struck deep into Pakistani territory. From Sargodha to Jacobabad, important air bases across the country and even a military cantonment in Karachi were targeted. Among the most significant strike was the assault on Pakistan's Bholari air base, where a hangar housing a Saab 2000 AEW&C aircraft and several fighter jets was obliterated. According to sources, the debris from the destruction still had not been cleared days later that is an indication of the magnitude of the damage. 'We Can Go Deep, We Can Go Wide' Indian military planners sought to disable Pakistan's ability to respond – beginning with its air defense network. Radar stations across Pakistani Punjab were taken out using Harop and Harpy loitering munitions. The offensive effectively blinded the PAF's surveillance capabilities. By May 8, key radar coverage had gone dark. It forced Pakistani jets to operate cautiously and stay deep within their territory. On the ground, Indian artillery and rocket units kept the Pakistan Army pinned down along the Jammu & Kashmir front. It ensured that pressure was maintained across all domains. Command and Control Breakdown One of the most decisive moments came when India targeted and destroyed command and control centers at Chaklala, Sargodha and Murid air bases using high-precision supersonic cruise missiles such as the Rampage and Scalp. These attacks severely disrupted Pakistan's aerial coordination, with no functional link between their airborne early-warning systems and ground control. Caught in the fog of war, Pakistani aircraft began using civilian traffic as cover – an act seen by observers as both desperate and dangerous. Pakistan attempted to hit back on May 9 and 10 and launched missiles and drones sourced from China and Turkey. However, India's multi-layered air defense – ranging from modern S-400 systems to older L-70 guns – intercepted most threats. In fact, sources say some Pakistani missiles fell almost completely intact, failed to detonate and ended up in the hands of Indian villagers who handed them over to the military. The Message Was Clear Indian strikes were launched from deep within its own territory, without crossing into Pakistani airspace. The precision and power of these attacks - tracked in real-time by satellites and Indian AWACS aircraft – left little doubt about India's intent and capability. Military insiders described the operation as a masterclass in modern warfare and noted how surgical strikes on radar stations, missile sites and air bases created a 'decision paralysis' within the Pakistani command structure. The scale of the damage extended beyond hardware. Pakistani reliance on Chinese and Turkish weaponry – much of which underperformed – also came under scrutiny. In several instances, Indian vintage systems like Pechora and OSA-AK outclassed newer foreign imports. The Ceasefire By the morning of May 10, Pakistan had reached out through diplomatic and military backchannels seeking a ceasefire. Indian officials suggest this rapid outreach was spurred by the intensity and effectiveness of the strikes. Sources say Indian leadership had made it clear from the outset – this was not going to be a token response. Targets were selected with an intention to cause lasting damage to Pakistan's terror infrastructure and the military apparatus that shields it. Though the IAF is still conducting post-strike technical assessments, preliminary analysis suggests the operation achieved its strategic objectives. A full official account will be released only after '500 percent' verification, as one source put it. For now, however, Operation Sindoor stands as one of the most impactful air campaigns in recent regional history – executed with precision, resolve and a message that resonates far beyond the subcontinent.
India Today
15-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Exclusive: India fired 15 BrahMos missiles to cripple Pakistan's air defence
In a powerful counter-strike, India launched around 15 BrahMos missiles and other precision weapons on the night of May 9-10, targeting key Pakistani airbases. The operation, carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF), damaged 11 out of Pakistan's 13 major airbases, delivering a significant blow to the country's air defence network and military strikes came after Pakistan attempted to attack several military targets in northern and western India during the night of May 7-8 using drones and missiles. Areas targeted included Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Bhuj. However, India's Integrated Air Defence systems successfully detected and neutralised all response, the Indian Armed Forces launched coordinated attacks the next morning, targeting Pakistani air defence radars, including one in Lahore. On the night of May 9-10, the IAF intensified its response by hitting high-value Pakistani air force to sources, the Indian Air Force used pilotless target aircraft to provoke Pakistani radars and air defence systems into action. Once they were activated, India deployed Harop kamikaze drones to disable and damage those systems. This move paved the way for further missile attacks using BrahMos and Scalp cruise carrying these missiles took off from various bases under India's Western and South Western Air Commands. The attacks struck critical locations, including a hangar in Sindh where Pakistan reportedly lost important equipment, including UAVs and an airborne surveillance the strikes, the Pakistan Air Force was forced to move its aircraft to rear bases due to the extent of operation, overseen by the Chief of Defence Staff, saw the BrahMos missile chosen as the primary weapon on the advice of the National Security Advisor. The use of BrahMos was seen as a strong signal of India's military BRAHMOS MISSILESUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during the recent inauguration of the BrahMos Aerospace facility in Lucknow, confirmed the use of the missile in these strikes. 'If you didn't witness the BrahMos in action, ask the people of Pakistan,' he is a long-range supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. Known for its speed and accuracy, the missile operates on the 'Fire and Forget' principle. It can reach speeds close to Mach 3 and strike targets up to 290 km away with high two-stage propulsion system, stealth features, and advanced guidance technology make it hard to detect and intercept. The missile can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg and can fly as high as 15 km or as low as 10 meters, depending on the mission Watch
Express Tribune
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
India's blind spot in South Asia
Listen to article In the immediate aftermath of a militant attack at Pahalgam in IIOJK that killed 26 people, India initiated hostilities against Pakistan on baseless accusations. It attacked civilian sites inside Azad Kashmir and parts of Punjab through missiles and drones. Under the pretext of terrorism, India targeted non-combatant sites inside Pakistan. India claims victory to satisfy its population for political gains at home, increase its regional and global standings and attempt to set up a new normal. However, as a result of Pakistan's befitting counteractions on May 10, India could not achieve its objectives across diplomatic, strategic, and technological domains. Unrealistically, many in India claim to have undermined Pakistan's nuclear deterrence by targeting civilian sites inside Pakistan, as a result of which 33 innocent civilians lost their lives, with more than 40 got injured. India did not attack strategic sites inside Pakistan due to the fear of retaliation from the Pakistani side and escalation to the nuclear level. Though there is a disparity in conventional forces between Pakistan and India, PAF once again demonstrated remarkable skills, maneuverability and will to safeguard the country's sovereignty. In contrast, the IAF, which recently inducted one of the world's most sophisticated French-made Rafale jets into its fleet, is reported to have lost five jets, including 3 Rafale, on May 7, in no time. This is a very big setback to India, which spends billions of dollars to modernise its air force. Also, India's launch of more than 70 sophisticated Harop drones could not cause lethality and destruction as assumed, as these were effectively neutralised by Pakistan, mainly through a soft-kill approach, showcasing modern warfare capabilities and technological strides. After the May 7 attacks on Pakistan, an increasing uncertainty prevailed in India. The imminent fear of retaliation by Pakistan, which was justifiable under international law, left India in a state of extreme uncertainty, as evidenced by the suspension of its billion-dollar IPL cricket event and the decline of the Indian rupee due to the security situation. Furthermore, amid heightened situations, India suspended civilian operations at 24 airports. After showing aggression, India, through massive use of propaganda, attempted to show it to the world that it has acted in self-defence, and that Pakistan has already targeted its territories. India's accusations of missile and drone attacks from the Pakistani side also show that it wanted to de-escalate at that point, as the prospects of countermeasures by Pakistan grew. Yet again, India could not disregard Pakistan's nuclear deterrence and establish a new normal. While some in India argue that in 2016, 2019, and now, in 2025, Pakistan made no mention of the use of nuclear weapons. It is important to note that every nuclear weapon state has a nuclear doctrine and sets a threshold for nuclear weapon use at a certain level. Pakistan's nuclear forces, fortified with sophisticated delivery systems, have become a reality that the adversary cannot evade. Pakistan showed strategic patience and exercised maximum restraint, making its case firm and justifiable in the light of international law before it launched the operation 'Bunyan Marsoos'. Pakistan's coordinated ground-based and aerial strikes seemed to have effectively bypassed India's advanced defence systems, which were supposed to be inescapable. Pakistan took bold and firm actions and targeted the strategic sites inside India. Initially, India was reluctant to leave a space for diplomacy. But its massive diplomatic outreach amid a spiral of worries that led to the US brokering a ceasefire indicates a reversal in its stance. The crisis brought India and Pakistan very close to a wider conflict, and the risk of nuclear escalation has never before reached this level. The situation worsened due to the absence of a dialogue mechanism and an effective crisis management mechanism. The US should play a role in resolving the longstanding issues, managing the regional security environment and maintaining strategic stability in South Asia, which is key to peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
How did Turkey's Ukrainian war hero drones, fail against india? India's desi defence system exposes flaws
Synopsis Pakistani deployment of Turkish drones during a recent conflict with India failed to achieve the desired tactical advantage due to India's strong air defenses. These drones, less advanced than those supplied to Ukraine, were intercepted by Indian systems, including domestically produced drones. India's successful use of Israeli-made Harop drones further undermined Pakistan's military capabilities.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
India-Pakistan: Conflict with no clear winner
Paris, France: A ceasefire between India and Pakistan has calmed fears of all-out war and despite conflicting claims, experts say no clear victor emerged in the brief conflict between the nuclear-armed foes. No clear winner Both South Asian countries claim to have achieved their goals in their worst conflict since 1999, without admitting significant losses. Four days of intense fighting began last Wednesday when India launched strikes against what it described as "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan. India claims Pakistan backs the militants it says were behind an April attack in which 26 people were killed in Kashmir -- a charge Islamabad denies. "If victory is defined by who lost the most manned aircraft, then India certainly lost this one," said Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie think tank. "But India also succeeded in effectively interdicting a range of Pakistani surface targets and imposing significant costs on Pakistan," Tellis told AFP. "Both sides continue to claim air-to-air kills, but clear evidence remains unavailable at the time of writing," said Fabian Hoffmann from the University of Oslo. "What stands out is the extensive use of conventional long-range strike systems by both sides to target military infrastructure deep within enemy territory, including sites near their capitals," he added. Nuclear powers While slow to begin with, the international community, including the United States, eventually intervened, alarmed by the possibility of further escalation. Hoffmann said the bitter foes showed little restraint despite the absence of "deliberate strikes on critical civilian infrastructure". "Any shift in that direction would... potentially bring the conflict closer to the threshold of nuclear use," said Hoffmann. The global trend towards violence, especially by states facing internal turmoil, demands greater international vigilance, according to Tellis. The fact that both countries are nuclear powers "makes the conventional balances all the more important. But the fact remains that neither side has a decisive conventional edge in a short war," said Tellis. Drones on the frontline Like other modern conflicts, this one confirmed the "widespread" use of drones for warfare, according to Oishee Majumdar from British intelligence firm Janes. Israel Aerospace Industries' exploding drones Harop and Harpy, as well as reconnaissance drone Heron were used by India, Majumdar told AFP. According to specialist site Military Balance, India also deployed Indian drones Nishant and Drishti.
