New Delhi: Indian Air Force chief Air Marshal A.P. Singh Saturday made it clear that there were no restrictions imposed by the political class on the operational aspects of Op Sindoor and they were given a free hand to decide what to do and how to go about it.
“A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There were very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us… If there were any constraints, they were self-made,” the IAF chief said at the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre lecture in Bengaluru.
Speculation on why the IAF did not carry out any SEAD and DEAD (Suppression and Destruction of Enemy Air Defences) gathered traction after India’s Defence Attaché to Indonesia Captain Shiv Kumar said “some” fighter jets were lost to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in the early hours of 7 May due to political constraints that limited military targeting to terror camps alone.
Responding to a commentator who referenced Pakistan’s claim of having downed six aircraft, including three Rafales, during Operation Sindoor, Capt. Kumar of the Indian Navy said, “I may not agree with him that India lost so many aircraft. But, I do agree that we did lose some aircraft and that happened only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishments and their air defences.”
However, setting the record straight, the IAF chief said, “The forces decided what will be our rules of engagement, what will be the escalation ladder that we will ride on and we decided how to control the escalation ladder.
“There were no, I repeat, no restrictions on us. Full freedom was given to plan and execute. I must say that our attacks have been calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it,” he said.
When the Navy officer had made the remarks, sources had explained that he had most likely gone by social media chatter and was not part of any briefings or decision-making.
They had explained that it was the forces which decided not to go in for any SEAD/DEAD because it would have then meant hitting Pakistani military targets and India would be seen by the world as a military aggressor.
Meanwhile, the IAF chief also said that there was a lot of planning and discussion among the three Service chiefs, Chief of Defence Staff and the highest political office.
“What are the eventualities, possible outcome, what should be our reaction? Not much discussion was going on where the ops were on. I just called to inform what we are doing,’ he said.
He said that during the three-day conflict, he used to go home only to change and come back and he had made a resting space for himself in the office.
He said after the first night of 6-7 May, he did not even change and remained in his flying overhauls for two days.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
But this won’t be enough for the ignorant, traitor, total sell-out LoP will it? His coterie will continue asking questions about why today, how do you know they are Pakis, why not more, why this, why that!