Did Pakistan Shoot Down Indian Jets? DG Air Operations Clarifies alongwith Details of How their 9 Strategic Airbases Were Targeted and Attacked
New Delhi, May 11 — In a significant development following a series of escalated provocations, the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched a decisive retaliatory operation in response to coordinated drone and UAV attacks by Pakistan on May 7 and 8. The high-level press briefing on May 11 by Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, shed light on the scale and precision of the Indian response during the ongoing Operation Sindoor.
The press conference was jointly held by senior officials of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Air Marshal Bharti stated that the unprovoked aggression by Pakistan, especially the drone strikes targeting both civilian areas and key IAF installations, in the wake of a “dastardly act at Pahalgam,” forced India to respond.
Massive Drone Raids by Pakistan
According to Air Marshal Bharti, Pakistan’s attacks came in several waves across two days. The targets included both strategic and civilian zones. Key IAF installations hit included:
- Jammu
- Udhampur
- Pathankot
- Amritsar
- Bathinda
- Nal
- Dalhousie
- Thoise
- Jaisalmer
- Uttarlai
- Phalodi
- Naliya
India’s air defense successfully intercepted these assaults using a combination of modern and legacy systems, including:
- Advanced air defense systems
- Legacy Pechora missile batteries
- New-generation SAMAR systems
- Garud Commandos deployed as anti-drone snipers
India’s Retaliation: Precision and Proportion
On May 9, the IAF launched a calibrated and proportionate counter-offensive targeting critical Pakistani military infrastructure at nine places and terror launchpads at two places. Key strategic sites destroyed included:
- Muridke Training Camp and Bhawalpur terror bases
- Pasrur, Chunian, Arifwala air defense radar sites
- Sargodha Air Field, a major F-16 base and training hub
- Rahim Yar Khan and Chaklala (Nur Khan) air bases
- Sukkur radar and aircraft shelters
- Bholari and Jacobabad airfield hangars
Air Marshal Bharti emphasized the precision of the attacks, noting that high-value radar installations and airfields were neutralized to degrade Pakistan’s aerial response capability.
Enemy Aircraft Shot Down
When questioned, Air Marshal Bharti confirmed that Indian forces shot down enemy fighter aircraft. Though he did not specify the types, he acknowledged it was a “high-tech platform,” anwering a further question on whether it was a platform with 4+ generation capabilities.
Indian Losses and Clarity on Rafale
Responding to queries on Indian losses, he assured the media that “all our pilots are safe and back home.” When asked specifically about any Rafale fighter jet being shot down, he responded, “There are hardware losses in a war, and the assets are meant to be used. The objective was achieved.” He declined to elaborate further whethere there were any fighters lost on our side or not.
Air Marshal Bharti concluded by stating, “We could have done without this, but we had no choice,” underlining the gravity and necessity of India’s response.
