Our fight is with terrorists, not with Pakistani military or civilians: IAF Air Marshal

Air Marshal AK Bharti, DGAO; Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, DGMO; and Vice Admiral AN Pramod, DGNO, held the second special briefing on Operation Sindoor — India’s response to the horrific terror attack on April 22.

Opening the briefing, Air Marshal Bharti showcased the technologies deployed by India that successfully neutralized Pakistani missiles and drones, which he referred to as being of "Chinese origin", which for drones, he corrected later to be of Turkish origin. He stated that since the Pakistani army supported the terrorists, India was compelled to retaliate.

Lt Gen Ghai emphasized that India was prepared for cross-border attacks and the evolving nature of terrorism. Counter-unmanned aerial systems and air defence weapons, integrated with Air Force technology, formed a robust defensive grid. The attacks on May 8–9 were successfully thwarted by this air defence system. "Pakistan could not breach this grid. One of the elements from our layered grid will intercept anything attempting to attack," noted Ghai.

He praised the BSF, stating that every soldier and officer from the BSF played a key role in the operation. "Jab hausle buland ho to manzilein bhi kadam chumti hain," he said.

He added that full synergy between the three armed forces, intelligence agencies, and the government made the operation a success.

During his turn, there was also a mention of Virat Kohli, where Ghai said we should mention cricket today, "I saw that Virat Kohli has just retired from test cricket; he is one of my favourites."

Vice Admiral AN Pramod of the Indian Navy stated that the Navy is maintaining continuous surveillance to eliminate threats — including drones, high-speed missiles, and fighter or surveillance aircraft. The fleet is equipped with advanced radars, and any infiltration is promptly detected using technology. This effectively kept Pakistani air elements confined, denying them any opportunity to pose a threat in the maritime domain. He concluded by saying that the Indian Navy’s dominance has made it clear that if India chooses to strike, it can.

Responding to a question from media, IAF Air Marshal AK Bharti clarified that India has not hit Kirana Hills in Pakistan.