Director Generals of Armed Forces Brief the Nation on Operation Sindoor, Ceasefire Violations and the Way Forward

In this article, you will find (best read in landscape mode)

• Introduction
• Joint Press Briefing on #OperationSindoor
• India Army Briefing
• Indian Air Force Briefing
• Indian Navy Briefing
• Key Message
• Summary of Military Operations
• Ceasefire Status and Violations
• Casualties and Forward Posture
• Video of Complete Briefing
• The strategic Message

Introduction

In a high-level press conference held on May 11, 2025, senior leaders from the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy provided a comprehensive account of Operation Sindoor, India’s precision military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and subsequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan. The operation targeted key terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan’s Punjab Province, aiming to eliminate the perpetrators and planners of the attack that killed 26 innocent civilians.

The joint briefing was conducted by:

• Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Indian Army
• Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, Indian Air Force
• Vice Admiral AN Pramod, Director General of Naval Operations, Indian Navy
• Maj Gen SS Sharda, ADGPI

The event, moderated by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized India’s calibrated and strategic military response designed to prevent collateral damage while targeting only confirmed terrorist locations.

🇮🇳 Joint Press Briefing on #OperationSindoor

By DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, DGNO Vice Admiral A. N. Pramod, and DGMOAO Air Marshal AK Bharti
Date: May 11, 2025

🔥 Trigger: Pahalgam Terror Attack (April 22, 2025)

• On April 22, 26 innocent civilians were killed in a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, executed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.
• This was the tipping point following a series of recent terror strikes against both civilians and armed forces.
• The Indian Armed Forces launched #OperationSindoor with a clear military objective:
  • Punish the perpetrators,
  • Destroy terror infrastructure, and
  • Send a resolute message of deterrence.

🪖 Indian Army – DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai

• LoC Violations and Retaliation:
  • Pakistan initiated cross-border shelling and drone incursions on May 8–9, triggering fierce engagements along the LoC.
  • Estimated 35–40 Pakistani casualties inflicted during these operations.
  • All Indian responses have targeted military assets and terror infrastructure, not civilian targets.
• Hotline Diplomacy and Ceasefire Breach:
  • At 15:35 hrs on May 10, Pakistani DGMO requested a ceasefire via the military hotline.
  • A temporary cessation of hostilities was agreed to begin at 17:00 hrs the same day, with follow-up talks scheduled for May 12.
  • Ceasefire was violated within hours by Pakistan through renewed shelling and drone attacks.
  • India responded immediately and sent a strong message warning of fierce punitive retaliation if violations continued.

✈️ Indian Air Force – DGMOAO Air Marshal AK Bharti

• Massive Drone and Air Raids by Pakistan:
  • On May 7 and May 8, Pakistan launched coordinated UAV and drone attacks targeting both civilian areas and IAF installations.
  • Key targets included air bases at Jammu, Udhampur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Bathinda, Nal, Dalhousie, Thoise, Jaisalmer, Uttarlai, Phalodi, and Naliya.
  • Attacks were launched in multiple waves, but were effectively intercepted using:
    • Modern air defense systems,
    • Legacy Pechora batteries,
    • New SAMAR systems,
    • Garud Commandos deployed as anti-drone snipers.
• Indian Response (May 8 Night):
  • In a swift and calibrated operation, India struck Pakistani air defense and command infrastructure, including:
    • Radar installations in Lahore and Gujranwala,
    • Air bases at Chaklala (Islamabad), Rahim Yar Khan, and Sukkur,
    • Follow-up strikes on Sargodha, Bholari, and Jacobabad.
  • The strikes were aimed at degrading Pakistan’s combat readiness and retaliation capability.

⚓ Indian Navy – DGNO Vice Admiral A. N. Pramod

• Immediate Naval Deployment Post-April 22:
  • Within 96 hours of the Pahalgam attack, the Indian Navy’s Carrier Battle Group was deployed with:
    • Surface combatants,
    • Submarines,
    • Naval aviation assets.
  • Conducted extensive live-fire drills in the Arabian Sea to validate precision strike capabilities.
• Forward Naval Posture:
  • Maintained a dispersed and forward-deployed stance in the northern Arabian Sea.
  • Pakistan’s naval and aerial assets were forced into a defensive posture, staying close to harbors and coasts.
  • India achieved complete battlespace transparency through superior maritime domain awareness.
• Ongoing Deterrence:
  • The Indian Navy remains fully deployed at sea in a credible deterrent posture, capable of launching precision strikes on land and sea targets, including Karachi.
  • The response has been measured, proportionate, and non-escalatory, aimed at ensuring peace through strength.

🇮🇳 Key Message:

Operation Sindoor is a demonstration of India’s resolve, precision, and preparedness. The armed forces acted with discipline, coordination, and clarity of purpose — sending a powerful signal to terror sponsors and adversaries alike:

“Aggression will be met with decisive, proportionate, and effective military force.”

Summary of Military Operations

🪖 Army

• Neutralized 35-40 Pakistani troops at LoC (May 7-10)
• Foiled infiltration attempts
• Engaged in strategic ceasefire talks, warned of punitive response to violations

✈️ Air Force

• Repelled multi-base drone assault on May 8
• Retaliated by striking key Pakistani airbases and radar systems
• Confirmed downing of PAF planes, refused to disclose Indian aircraft losses

🚢 Navy

• Immediate deployment after April 22 attack
• Conducted combat drills and maintained deterrent posture in Arabian Sea
• Tracked and contained Pakistani naval movement

Ceasefire and Violations

DGMO Lt. Gen. Ghai disclosed that on May 10, a ceasefire proposal was made via the hotline by Pakistan’s military leadership. It was agreed upon and took effect at 17:00 hours on May 10, but was violated within hours by Pakistani cross-border firing and drone incursions. India responded firmly and warned Pakistan through another hotline message of a punitive reaction to any further violations.

Ghai reiterated India’s commitment to measured and responsible military conduct, but warned that repeated provocations would be met with decisive force. India also confirmed the downing of multiple Pakistani aircraft, though no figures were released.

Casualties and Forward Posture

The briefing confirmed five fatalities on the Indian side during Operation Sindoor and ceasefire violations, and 35–40 Pakistani soldiers were reported killed in artillery exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC) between May 7–10.

Attempts at infiltration by Pakistani Army, Special Forces, or terrorists were successfully thwarted, the DGMO stated. The Indian military continues to maintain a deterrent and alert posture, with forward deployments ongoing across services.

Watch the entire press briefing below:

The Strategic Message

Operation Sindoor stands as a decisive statement of India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. By limiting strikes to confirmed terror targets, India underscored its strategic restraint while firmly conveying that aggression—military or terror-driven—will be met with overwhelming force.

The professionalism and poise displayed during the press conference reflected the confidence and clarity with which India’s armed forces executed and communicated this critical mission.