In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir, India launched Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory action against terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, revealed details of the operation at the NDTV Defence Summit, stating that the Indian Air Force (IAF) used fewer than 50 weapons to bring Pakistan to the ceasefire table.

Air Marshal Tiwari highlighted the effectiveness of the operation, stating that the IAF achieved "complete domination" over the Pakistan military by striking targeted military locations. He emphasized that this level of domination was achieved with fewer than 50 weapons, a feat that had not been accomplished before. According to Air Marshal Tiwari, some of the Pakistani targets eliminated during Operation Sindoor were not even hit during the 1971 war. He credited the success of the mission to the capability of the planners and the people who executed the missions, ensuring that every weapon counted.

Following the Pahalgam attack, all three Indian military services convened to plan possible responses. The operational options were presented to a high-level team on April 24, and tactical planning commenced around April 29. The date and time for the strikes were finalized on May 5. The strikes were conducted on May 6, 7, and 9, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories.

Air Marshal Tiwari explained that India's directives had three clear objectives: to respond effectively to the terror attack, to avoid escalating the situation, and to send a clear message to Pakistan. Despite the strikes, India initially aimed to keep the situation calibrated, engaging only military targets. However, following an attack on the night of May 9-10, India decided to send a stronger message by hitting targets across the front.

The strikes led to intense clashes for four days, culminating in an agreement to halt military actions on May 10. Air Marshal Tiwari noted that Pakistan requested the cessation of military hostilities by midday on May 10. The swiftness with which Pakistan asked for a ceasefire demonstrated the effectiveness of Operation Sindoor in compelling Pakistan to de-escalate the conflict.