New Delhi: The armed forces announced on Sunday that all pilots who carried out Operation Sindoor have come back home safe and sound. Air Marshal AK Bharti pointed out that the Air Force was successful in achieving all its objectives in the precision strikes launched against Pakistan.
“We are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat. However, we have achieved all our objectives, and all our pilots are back home,” Bharti said at a press briefing on Operation Sindoor.
He added: “We have downed a few Pakistani planes.” However, he refused to specify the number, as technical assessments are underway. “Pakistani aircraft were prevented from entering Indian airspace, so we don’t have wreckage, but we are certain of the hits.”
#WATCH | Delhi: On being asked about how many Pakistani planes were downed, Air Marshal AK Bharti says, “Their planes were prevented from entering inside our border…Definitely, we have downed a few planes…Definitely, there are losses on their side which we have inflicted…” pic.twitter.com/fGAqJklRPv
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2025
Air Marshal Bharti’s remarks came as military tensions mounted following Pakistan’s large-scale drone assault on multiple cities, including Srinagar and Naliya, during the night of May 8–9. The Air Marshal said that around 300–400 drones, including Turkish-origin Songar UAVs, were used in a coordinated attack targeting 36 sites. Indian air defences successfully intercepted the attacks, preventing any damage to key infrastructure.
‘Swift, coordinated, and calibrated’ attack
India responded by continuing Operation Sindoor and striking Pakistan’s airbases, command centers, and military infrastructure in a “swift, coordinated, and calibrated” attack. “A decision was taken to strike where it would hurt,” Air Marshal Bharti said. He confirmed airbases in Chaklala, Rafiq, and Rahim Yar Khan were struck, followed by Sargodha, Bhulari, and Jacobabad. He also pointed to Pakistan’s “reckless” move to permit civilian and international flights to take off from Lahore during its drone operations, which forced India to exercise utmost caution during its retaliatory response.
Air Marshal Bharti said India’s goal was not to cause casualties but to send a clear message. “Our job is to hit the target, not to count the body bags,” he underlined.
