In a decisive response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, India launched Operation Sindoor, a high-impact military campaign that inflicted significant losses on Pakistan’s aerial and ground forces. According to post-strike assessments, the operation resulted in the destruction of multiple high-value Pakistani air assets, showcasing the depth and accuracy of India’s military capabilities.
Among the most notable losses for Pakistan were six Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets, shot down during aerial engagements. These dogfights occurred over Pakistani Punjab and parts of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Indian radar and thermal tracking systems confirmed the destruction, as the aircraft disappeared from tracking grids post-impact.
India also neutralized two high-value surveillance aircraft, including an electronic warfare platform or an AEW&C aircraft using a long-range Sudarshan strike asset at a distance of approximately 300 kilometers. A second AEW&C, believed to be of Swedish make and stationed at Pakistan’s Bholari airbase, was taken out by a targeted cruise missile. Satellite images later confirmed the destruction of the hangar housing this aircraft.
In a separate offensive, a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft used for logistical operations was destroyed by an Indian drone strike while parked at a forward base near Multan. This blow further crippled Pakistan’s battlefield mobility and supply routes.
A critical phase of the operation saw the Indian Air Force (IAF) targeting Chinese-made Wing Loong unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). Over ten of these drones were reportedly eliminated in a precision strike carried out by Rafale and Su-30 jets. Indian air defence units also intercepted and brought down several Pakistani UCAVs attempting to breach Indian airspace during the confrontation.
Though India initially maintained its offensive focus on terror camps in Pakistani Punjab and PoJK, intercepted documents later revealed that India had struck seven additional locations inside Pakistan—including Peshawar, Hyderabad (Sindh), Jhang, and Bahawalnagar—demonstrating deeper strike penetration than officially disclosed.
Following retaliatory Pakistani drone and missile attacks targeting Indian civilian and military sites, India expanded its operation, hitting 11 major Pakistani air bases, including Sialkot, Sargodha, Skardu, and Jacobabad.
On May 10, after suffering significant losses and under diplomatic pressure, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to India’s DGMO seeking a ceasefire. India agreed to suspend operations but warned that further aggression would provoke a renewed response.
