Pakistan has been 'put on notice', India declared Sunday evening, a day after a US-brokered ceasefire brought the two nations' 100-hour drone and missile war to a halt.
The government said Pak had been sent a 'hotline' message earlier in the day that said any violation of the ceasefire, whether tonight or at a later date, would be responded to 'fiercely'.
The warning came after Pak violated the ceasefire; within hours of it being announced drones were intercepted across Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar, and parts of Gujarat too.
In a special briefing this evening, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, India's Director-General of Military Operations, said he spoke to his counterpart at 3.35 pm on Saturday and said cross-border firing and air intrusions by either side were then stopped by 5 pm.
During a detailed briefing on Operation Sindoor, senior Indian military officials confirmed the downing of several high-tech Pakistani fighter jets. While the exact number remains undisclosed, the Indian Air Force asserted that enemy aircraft were intercepted and neutralized before they could breach Indian airspace.
Air Marshal AK Bharti stated, “Their planes were prevented from entering inside our border. Definitely, we have downed a few planes… there are losses on their side which we have inflicted.”
Importantly, all Indian pilots have safely returned, and no Indian fighter jets were lost during the operation.
Lt. Gen. Ghai, revealed that India had carried out strikes on 21 high-value terror-related targets and warned of further action if provocations continue. “We can target more if Pakistan doesn’t mend its ways,” he said.
On Pakistan’s military casualties, Lt. Gen. Ghai mentioned that between 35 to 40 personnel were likely neutralized along the Line of Control (LoC). He clarified that India’s focus remained strictly on terrorist infrastructure. “Once Pakistan responded by targeting Indian military infrastructure, we used heavier weapons. There would have been further casualties, but assessments are ongoing,” he added.
Air Marshal AK Bharti said that India struck Pakistani air bases, command centers, military infrastructure, and air defence systems across the entire Western Front in a coordinated and calibrated manner.
"The bases we struck include Chaklala, Rafiqui, and Rahim Yar Khan, sending a clear message that aggression will not be tolerated. This was followed by strikes at Sargodha, Bhulari, and Jacobabad," he pointed out.
The Indian Army lost 5 soldiers in 'Operation Sindoor', launched in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. "I pay homage to 5 fellow personnel from the armed forces, their sacrifices will always be remembered," the Army said in a briefing today.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath confirmed on Sunday that a BrahMos missile was used in strikes against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. He was speaking at the inauguration event of BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow. The new facility will give a boost to India's defence capabilities.
