Pakistan Suffered Over 100 Military Casualties During Operation Sindoor: Indian Army Reveals Details of May Conflict

Lt General Ghai confirmed that Pakistan suffered significant casualties during Operation Sindoor, with their military posthumous awards revealing over 100 personnel lost along the Line of Control.

New Delhi:

According to Lt General Rajiv Ghai, Indian Army's Director General Military Operations, Pakistan is believed to have lost more than 100 military personnel along the Line of Control during Operation Sindoor. This assessment was based on the posthumous awards conferred by Pakistan's military following the conflict.

The senior military official also confirmed that Pakistan lost at least 12 aircraft during the May conflict, corroborating information previously shared by Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, Chief of Air Staff.

Lt Gen Ghai emphasized that the Indian Navy was completely prepared to engage if necessary, stating that had Pakistan prolonged hostilities, the consequences "could have been catastrophic for it, not only from the sea but from other dimensions as well."

Providing details about the May 7-10 conflict, he explained that Pakistan initiated cross-border firing immediately after India targeted nine terrorist locations on May 7.

"Pakistanis possibly unwittingly revealed their awards list last month on August 14, and the number of posthumous awards they presented indicates that their casualties on the LoC exceeded 100," Lt Gen Ghai noted.

"Our focus was on terrorists, and once that objective was accomplished, we had no intention to escalate unless forced to do so. Pakistan responded with cross-border firing immediately after we engaged the terror targets," he stated.

The DGMO also described Pakistan's drone attacks against India as a "dismal failure," mentioning that Pakistan deployed drones even after communications between the two DGMOs.

"They utilized various types and classes of drones attempting to cause casualties and damage to our personnel and equipment. However, all attempts were completely unsuccessful," he said.

These attacks prompted the Indian Air Force to conduct precision strikes on Pakistani installations during the night between May 9 and 10.

"We targeted 11 of their air bases. Eight air bases, three hangars, and four radars were damaged. Pakistani air assets were destroyed on the ground as well," he reported.

Lt Gen Ghai detailed that Pakistani ground losses included one C-130 class aircraft, one AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) aircraft, and four to five fighter jets.

Pakistan also sustained losses in aerial combat. "We now know that the world's longest ever ground-to-air kill occurred at over 300 kilometers, with five high-tech fighters hit. The impunity with which these attacks were executed is particularly significant," he emphasized.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories. This triggered four days of intense clashes that concluded with an agreement to cease military actions on May 10.

Lt Gen Ghai also mentioned the elimination of the three terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack in June, adding that the Army was determined to "chase them to the depths of hell, and we did."

"It took us 96 days, but we never let them rest," he stated.

When these terrorists were eventually found and eliminated, they appeared exhausted from constant movement and severely malnourished.

"While people might ask where terrorists have disappeared to, finding them can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Though it may seem simple to the casual observer, these operations require significant time," he explained.

Lt Gen Ghai emphasized that there has been a "doctrinal shift in our strategy against terror."

"Our prime minister has articulated three key principles: terror attacks constitute acts of war warranting decisive retaliation; we will not yield to nuclear blackmail; and we make no distinction between terrorists and those who sponsor terrorism," he concluded.