In a press briefing concerning Operation Sindoor, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army, employed a cricket analogy to illustrate the robustness of India's air defense systems. Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed. India retaliated by targeting terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK).
During the briefing, Lt. Gen. Ghai referenced the retirement of Virat Kohli from Test cricket, stating that Kohli was his favorite cricketer. He then drew a parallel to the famous Ashes series between Australia and England in the 1970s, where the Australian fast-bowling duo of Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee dominated the English batting lineup. Ghai adapted the proverb, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must," to explain India's layered air defense grid. He stated, "Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you".
Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, highlighted that Pakistan used advanced weaponry, including Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missiles, which failed to hit their targets. He also displayed debris from long-range rockets, loiter munitions, and unmanned aerial systems, including Turkish-origin YIHA and Songar drones, that were shot down by India's air defense systems. Bharti credited sustained government investment and policy support over the last decade for India's advanced capabilities.
Operation Sindoor involved strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and PoJK. These locations were identified as key training and operational hubs for attacks against India, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The operation showcased seamless tri-service coordination between the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Indian Navy's deployment in the Arabian Sea kept Pakistan's naval assets pinned near the coast, while weapon drills ensured full operational preparedness at sea.
The strikes were viewed not through the prism of the bilateral dispute, but as part of a legitimate response to terrorism. For the first time, the Kashmir issue was effectively de-hyphenated from India's right to act against terror. India's message was unambiguous: those who shelter terrorists will no longer be safe.
Lt. Gen. Ghai stated that Operation Sindoor was conceptualized with the clear military aim to punish the perpetrators and planners of terror and to destroy their terror infrastructure. He also mentioned that he spoke to his Pakistani counterpart, who proposed a cessation of hostilities, leading to a halt in cross-border firing and air intrusions. However, he expressed disappointment that Pakistan violated these arrangements shortly after by engaging in cross-border and Line of Control firing, followed by drone intrusions. He conveyed that another hotline message was sent, emphasizing that any further violations would be met with a fierce and punitive response.
The DGMO paid tribute to the five martyrs from the Armed Forces and civilians who lost their lives in Operation Sindoor. The operation resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets involved in the IC 814 hijacking and the Pulwama blast.
