Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has backed the decision to stop hostilities with Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, calling it a wise and strategic move. Speaking about the operation, he said that in war, egos often take over, causing escalation, but India set an important example by stopping once its objective was achieved. “Our aim was clear — to teach terrorists a lesson so they think twice before any misadventure. Once that goal was met, we looked for every opportunity to stop rather than prolong the conflict. Some even suggested we should hit more targets, but why continue a war when it can be stopped? The nation made the right decision, and we were part of it, though it was taken at the highest level,” he stated. The IAF chief credited the success of Operation Sindoor to the political will of the central government. Addressing a program at HAL Management Academy in Bengaluru, he emphasized that there were no restrictions or pressures on the armed forces and any hurdles were self-imposed. He noted that the forces themselves set the operational rules and controlled escalation. Singh praised the role of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in coordinating the Army, Navy, and Air Force, adding that the CDS position brought a significant change, while the National Security Advisor (NSA) united all agencies for the mission. His remarks come days after Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the government’s political will during a parliamentary discussion on Operation Sindoor, alleging that armed forces lost aircraft due to political pressure. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. The Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating over 100 militants linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling, drone attack attempts, and military aggression, prompting India to carry out calibrated strikes on 11 Pakistani airbases, including Noor Khan Airbase, damaging radar systems, communication hubs, and runways. Weakened by the strikes, Pakistan requested a ceasefire on May 10, which India accepted.
Operation Sindoor: IAF Chief Says Halting Conflict with Pakistan Was a Wise Decision
