New Delhi, Oct 3: Indian fighter jets shot down Pakistan’s US-made F-16s and Chinese J-17s during Operation Sindoor, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said Friday, dismissing Pakistani claims of Indian jet losses as propaganda aimed at misleading their citizens.
The Air Force chief also stated that Pakistan requested the ceasefire, reinforcing India’s position that the cessation of hostilities on May 10 resulted from Islamabad suing for peace, not intervention by then-US President Donald Trump.
During the operation, India targeted and neutralised nine terror camps and bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir in retaliation for the terror attack on civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. “In Operation Sindoor, you saw the terrorists paid the price for killing innocent people… we struck targets across 300 km, then they asked for the ceasefire,” Singh said, while praising India’s air defence systems for successfully intercepting Pakistani missiles and drones during the nearly 100-hour conflict.
Trump had repeatedly claimed credit for the ceasefire, including statements at the UN General Assembly and meetings with world leaders. Singh, however, reaffirmed India’s narrative that the ceasefire was initiated by Pakistan.
The Air Force chief also warned about future conflicts, stating, “The next war will be different from the previous one. We must be prepared now and for the future as well.” His remarks echoed those of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who last month highlighted the transformation of modern warfare.
“In the 21st century, sheer numbers of soldiers or the size of weapon stockpiles are no longer enough,” the Defence Minister said. “Cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, and satellite-based surveillance are shaping wars of the future. Precision-guided weapons, real-time intelligence, and data-driven information are now the cornerstone of success in any conflict.” (Agencies)
