IAF Chief on Operation Sindoor: 'Let Pakistan Tell Beautiful Stories', We Have Facts

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Friday reiterated that during Operation Sindoor in May, Indian forces had targeted and destroyed five Pakistan's fighter aircraft (including F-16/JF-17) and a large AEW-&-C platform.

He also dismissed the claims being made by Pakistan, mocking them, saying that these are all "love stories" and if they say they shot down 15 or 7 planes, let that be their word - the reality is different. The Air Force Chief quipped, "If they think they shot down 15 of our planes, I hope they are convinced and when they come to fight again, they will have 15 less planes in my stock." This is not the first time the Air Force has claimed to have shot down five Pakistan's planes during Operation Sindoor. In August too, the Air Chief Marshal had said that these planes were shot down by S-400 air defence systems.

What did the Pakistani Prime Minister say?

Several days ago, in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif claimed that the Pakistani Air Force destroyed seven Indian aircraft in the May clashes. This claim sparked a heated exchange between the two sides. In recent statements, the Air Chief Marshal also stated that Operation Sindoor resulted in damage to Pakistan's air power due to air defense systems like the S-400 and coordinated air and ground operations. The Air Force has hinted at similar results in previous months.

Government-Military Stance and Strategic Signals

The Air Force Chief also stated that this was our largest operation and that all three services carried out the mission in a coordinated manner; modern fighter aircraft and systems will continue to be used as needed. He also stated that the necessary resources (options such as the Rafale or SU-57) will be determined by the government, and our priority is accuracy and efficiency.