'Pakistan military chose to support terrorists': Key takeaways from DGMO briefing on Operation Sindoor

NEW DELHI: Top Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs)and senior Navy and Air Force officers held a press conference on Monday to provide further details about Operation Sindoor .

The operation, which began in the early hours of May 7, targeted nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Operation Sindoor also served as the umbrella operation for all subsequent military responses to Pakistan.

The briefing comes after both nations reached a ceasefire understanding.

Here are the key takeaways from the briefing:

• Air Marshal AK Bharti said that while India's primary objective was to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, Pakistan's military chose to protect these elements, forcing India to expand its response. "Our fight was against terror infra, terrorists but Pakistan military chose to support terrorists and widened conflict. It is a pity that the Pakistani military chose to intervene and that for terrorists, and hence we chose to respond," Air Marshal AK Bharti said.
• The Air Marshal praised country's defence capabilities, noting, "Our battle-tested systems proved their worth in actual combat conditions. The indigenous Akash air defense system demonstrated exceptional performance. The robust air defense infrastructure we've established is a direct result of the government's sustained budgetary and policy support over the past decade."
• "Numerous waves of drones and unmanned combat aerial vehicles employed by Pakistan were also thwarted by the indigenously developed soft and hard kill counter-UAS systems and the well-trained Indian Air Defence personnel," he added.
• The briefing included a detailed presentation by Air Marshal Bharti, showcasing the various targets engaged by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor.
• Akash missiles were among weapon systems used by armed forces.
• The top officials showed the debris of a likely PL-15 air-to-air missile which was used by Pakistan during the attack on India.
• DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai said, "Targetting our airfields and logistics is way too tough... I saw that Virat Kohli has just retired from test cricket; he is one of my favourites. In the 1970s, during the Ashes between Australia and England, two Australian bowlers destroyed the batting lineup of England, and then Australia gave a proverb - "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must". If you see the layers, you'll understand what I am trying to say. Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you."
• "All our military bases, all our systems continue to remain fully operational and ready to undertake any future missions should the need so arise," Air Marshal AK Bharti said.