In a powerful statement during a media briefing on Monday, Air Marshal AK Bharti reaffirmed that India’s military operations, including Operation Sindoor, are strictly aimed at neutralizing terrorist threats. “Our fight was, and continues to be, against terrorists. It is unfortunate that the Pakistani military chose to intervene on their behalf — hence, we were compelled to respond,” he stated.
His remarks follow the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, just days after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. The operation targeted nine active terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, launched in direct retaliation to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
Addressing questions on India’s defence capabilities, Air Marshal Bharti praised the resilience of the country’s military systems. “India’s battle-proven air defence systems stood the test of time. The Akash system, developed indigenously, delivered exceptional performance in safeguarding our skies,” he noted.
He also highlighted that Pakistan’s use of UAVs and combat drones was effectively neutralised using a combination of indigenous soft-kill and hard-kill counter-UAS technologies, managed by highly trained Indian Air Defence personnel.
“All our military bases and systems remain fully operational and on standby for any future missions, if required,” he concluded, emphasizing India’s preparedness and strategic restraint.
