Tiwari stated the operation aimed to neutralize Pakistan’s capabilities, highlighting intense coordination between pilots and ground teams
New Delhi
Less than 50 weapons fired by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Operation Sindoor forced Pakistan to seek an end to hostilities by May 10, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari said on Saturday.
Recounting the mission at the NDTV Defence Summit, Tiwari said the IAF achieved “complete domination” over Pakistan’s military with carefully targeted strikes following Pakistan’s attack on the night of May 9–10. “In less than 50 weapons, we were able to achieve complete domination. It has not happened before,” he added.
Tiwari noted that some Pakistani targets destroyed during the mission had not been hit even during the 1971 war. He praised the precision planning and execution, highlighting that all targets were military installations and no collateral damage occurred. “The longer the vector, the higher the risk, but our planners and personnel ensured precise strikes,” he said.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22. India initially targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories and restrained from escalating further. However, Pakistan’s military response on May 9–10 prompted a decisive Indian counter-strike.
“The aim was to neutralise Pakistan’s capability and send the right message,” Tiwari said, adding that the operation involved intense coordination between pilots and ground teams. He described the use of long-range vectors as risky, but said the IAF achieved its objectives without civilian harm.
The strikes concluded four days of clashes, demonstrating India’s ability to respond rapidly and effectively to cross-border threats while maintaining precision and strategic restraint.
