The Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, conducted a press conference in Islamabad with Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, the Director General of Public Relations for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), and Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz, the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations).
On Sunday, the armed forces of Pakistan announced that they targeted 26 Indian locations during ‘Operation Bunyanum Marsoos’ to restore deterrence following India’s recent violation of Pakistan’s airspace and subsequent early-morning strikes on air bases. During the press conference, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the chief spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, provided insights into the operation alongside Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed and Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz.
He stated that the heinous assaults commenced on the nights of May 6 and 7, leading to the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, including women, children, and the elderly. He noted that one Pakistani aircraft sustained minor damage during the Indian missile strike.
“Twenty-six military objectives, along with facilities in India that target Pakistani citizens and entities involved in inciting terrorism in Pakistan, were engaged in both Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and mainland India,” he remarked during the press conference. General Chaudhry described Pakistan’s response as a “textbook demonstration” of integrated tri-service operations, supported by real-time situational awareness, network-centric warfare capabilities, and seamless multidomain operations.
Following the Pahalgam tragedy on May 7, which resulted in the martyrdom of 31 individuals, India initiated a series of military strikes known as ‘Operation Sindoor’ across Pakistan. In response, the Pakistani military acted promptly, successfully downing five Indian aircraft and targeting Indian brigade headquarters and check posts in the occupied region of Kashmir along the Line of Control.
The chief of the ISPR honored the martyrs of the Indian aggression and their families, while also wishing for the swift recovery of the injured. He expressed profound appreciation for the bravery, professionalism, and sacrifices of every officer, soldier, airman, and sailor of the Pakistan Armed Forces, which contributed to this battlefield success.
DG ISPR expressed gratitude towards the youth of Pakistan, who served as the nation’s frontline soldiers in the realms of information and cyber warfare, as well as to the media for acting as a formidable barrier against Indian media narratives. He also acknowledged the support of politicians for the military during these challenging times and commended the Prime Minister for making decisions that could alter the course of destiny during this critical period.
The officer stated that the Pakistan Air Force achieved an unprecedented level of reach, accuracy, and lethality, successfully targeting the maximum number of Indian Air Force airfields in a single operational mission since 1971, as they crossed the international border. Furthermore, he noted that Pakistan reestablished deterrence by countering the establishment of a new normal under the hegemonic ambitions of a supremacist regime through a prompt and effective response.
Vice Admiral Rab Nawaz remarked that the Pakistan Navy successfully defended the nation’s maritime boundaries against a numerically superior adversary. He provided an account of the navy’s preparedness to counter any maritime threats. He mentioned the speculation surrounding the approach of INS Vikrant (Indian fleet) towards Karachi. ‘We have been closely monitoring the activities at sea from the very beginning,’ he stated.
‘On the nights of May 6 and 7, it was near Bombay, and by May 9, it was approximately 400 nautical miles from the Pakistani coastline before retreating back towards Bombay.’ He further explained, ‘If a carrier comes within 400 nautical miles, it simplifies our operational challenges. The navy’s maritime air division was fully prepared to respond at any moment. Should there be any hostile actions from the sea, we were equipped to react effectively.’
Indian military officials reported that the goals of ‘Operation Sindoor’ were successfully met, resulting in the elimination of ‘high-value terrorists’. However, they refrained from addressing inquiries regarding the potential loss of several warplanes during the operation. During a press conference, the officers shared significant insights about Operation Sindoor, its effects, and outcomes, affirming that the ‘objective has been achieved’.
Air Marshal AK Bharti, along with DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Maj Gen SS Sharma, and Vice Admiral AN Pramod, addressed the media. When questioned about reports of downed Rafale fighter jets, Air Marshal AK Bharti said that ‘losses are an inherent aspect of any combat situation’.
The Indian military emphasized, ‘We are engaged in a combat scenario, and losses are inevitable. Regarding further details, I prefer not to comment at this moment as we remain in combat, which could provide an advantage to our adversary.
