India’s Resilient Response to Pakistan: CDS General Chauhan on Operation Sindoor


Speaking at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 1, 2025, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan shared insights into India’s recent military clash with Pakistan, triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. He admitted that India lost fighter jets on the first day due to tactical errors but emphasized the swift correction of these mistakes. Within two days, the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched precise, large-scale strikes deep inside Pakistan, targeting airbases and terror camps with remarkable accuracy, penetrating defenses “with impunity,” Chauhan told .

Operation Sindoor’s Decisive Impact
Operation Sindoor, spanning May 7 to 10, saw Indian forces strike nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, eliminating at least 100 terrorists, and hitting 13 Pakistani military installations, including airbases in Rafiqui, Chaklala, and Karachi. Chauhan refuted Pakistan’s claims of downing six Indian jets, calling them “absolutely incorrect,” while highlighting the IAF’s use of diverse aircraft and ordnance, with some strikes accurate to within a meter. Air Marshal AK Bharti, in a May 11 briefing, confirmed the operation’s success in dismantling terror infrastructure, noting that losses are part of combat but the mission’s objectives were emphatically achieved.

Rationality and the Future of Warfare
Chauhan stressed the “rationality” shown by both nations during the standoff, suggesting there’s ample room for conventional operations below the nuclear threshold. He described this as a potential “new norm” in conflicts, with uniformed forces acting with restraint and clarity. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on May 29, noted that Operation Sindoor highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, driven by new technologies, and prompted the IAF to realign its strategies. India’s ability to adapt and deliver a forceful response underscores its military resolve and readiness for future challenges.