A significant military operation, dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor,’ conducted by India in May, led to the demise of over 100 Pakistani soldiers. This revelation was made by Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) and Director General Military Operations (DGMO), while addressing military leaders from 32 countries. He indicated that Pakistan inadvertently disclosed its casualty figures in its Independence Day awards list on August 14.
General Ghai explained that following Indian strikes on terror targets by the Army and Air Force, Pakistan initiated cross-border firing, leading to a spike in ceasefire violations. While initial Indian estimates placed Pakistani casualties between 35-40, the subsequent awards list, which included posthumous awards, suggested a much higher number, exceeding 100 casualties along the Line of Control (LoC).
‘Operation Sindoor’ was launched on May 7 as a direct military response to the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. The operation targeted terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Over the course of four days, until the ceasefire on the evening of May 10, Indian forces reportedly bombed nine terror camps, killing at least 100 terrorists, and struck 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations.
During his address at the conclave of United Nations Troop Contributing Countries, General Ghai detailed the strategic approach of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ describing it as a blend of military precision, diplomatic effort, informational superiority, and economic leverage. He highlighted that India’s actions were targeted, controlled, and non-escalatory, aimed at maintaining credibility while applying conventional pressure through forward deployments and extended punitive reach.
The operation involved precise strikes on terror sites such as Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur and Markaz Taiba near Muridke in Pakistan’s Punjab province, as well as multiple army targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Indian Air Force also conducted strikes on Pakistani airbases and military installations during May 9-10.
General Ghai emphasized that any further escalation by Pakistan would have had catastrophic consequences, noting the readiness of the Indian Navy to engage. He also recounted that the Indian military had ‘war-gamed’ the conflict several steps ahead. He drew parallels with previous Indian responses to terror attacks, such as Operation Parakram after the 2001 Parliament attack, surgical strikes post-2016 Uri attack, and the Balakot air strikes after the 2019 Pulwama attack, stating that the retaliation for the Pahalgam attack was distinct due to its intensity and magnitude, involving strikes deep into Pakistan’s heartland.
Furthermore, General Ghai reiterated claims made by Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, stating that Pakistan lost approximately 12 to 13 aircraft, including F-16s and JF-17s, during ‘Operation Sindoor’ due to India’s precise strikes. This disclosure marked a significant moment, as it was the first time a senior military leader confirmed the destruction of over ten Pakistani jets in such an operation.