May 12, 2025 - The Ministry of Defence (MoD) held an hour-long media conference on Operation Sindoor at the National Media Centre in New Delhi yesterday, May 11. The briefing was conducted by senior MoD officials - Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General Military Operations, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, Vice Admiral AN Pramod, Director General Naval Operations, and Major General SS Sharma. In this rare and detailed briefing, the officials provided an insight into the strategic retaliatory operation carried out by India against terror outfits in Pakistan.

The key takeaways from the briefing, as told by the Indian Armed Forces:

The officials said that Operation Sindoor had succeeded in delivering a significant blow to Pakistan’s military and terror infrastructure.

Around 35-40 Pakistan Army personnel were killed along the Line of Control (LoC) from May 7 to May 10. According to Air Marshal Bharti, these casualties were a direct outcome of India’s retaliatory strikes on military assets, underscoring the operation’s impact on Pakistan’s forces.

More than 100 terrorists, including high-value targets like Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudassir Ahmad, were killed in precision strikes on nine terror hubs within Pakistan and PoK, confirmed Lt Gen Ghai. Nine confirmed terror camps, based on multi-agency intelligence, were destroyed. Key terror infrastructures in Muridke and Bhawalpur were dismantled.

Air Marshal Bharti presented satellite imagery showing pinpointed destruction of terror targets using advanced weaponry, unlike the 2019 Balakot strikes. This showcased India’s technological precision and operational effectiveness in targeting terror infrastructure.

Indian forces thwarted all infiltration bids along the LoC during ceasefire violations. The infiltration attempts could have been by terrorists or Special Forces.

Within hours of the May 10 ceasefire, drones from Pakistan targeted Indian military and civilian infrastructure but all incursions were met with effectively.

Eleven air bases in Pakistan were destroyed.  The IAF's targeted assault hit several high-value centres in Pakistan, including airbases at Chakala (Nur Khan), Rafiqi, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Bholari and Jacobabad. Air defence radars at Pasrur, Chunian and Arifwala were also damaged in precision strikes by Indian forces.

Several high-tech Pakistani aircraft, possibly F-16s or J-10Cs, were prevented from entering the Indian airspace and were downed by the Indian Air Force. This was confirmed by Air Marshal Bharti.

"As I said, their planes were prevented from coming inside our border. So, we don't have wreckage with us, but definitely, we have downed a few Pakistani planes; numbers, we would not like to hazard a guess out here, I have the numbers and we are getting into technical details to establish it."

Technical data is being analysed to confirm the exact number of losses, demonstrating India’s robust air defence capabilities, the media was told.

Air Marshal Bharti did not confirm or deny speculations about Rafale jets being shot down. He, however, acknowledged that “losses are a part of any combat scenario” and reiterated completion of a successful operation with all pilots returning safely.

"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," he said.

The Navy had swiftly deployed its Carrier Battle Group to the northern Arabian Sea within 96 hours of the Pahalgam attack. This was shared by Vice Admiral Pramod who warned of decisive and quick action in case of further provocations.

Lt Gen Ghai said, "I pay my solemn homage to my five fallen colleagues and brothers from the armed forces and civilians who tragically lost their lives in Operation Sindoor. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families...Their sacrifices shall always be remembered..."