Operation Sindoor: India's air superiority forced Pakistan to beg for ceasefire, European report reveals

New Delhi: The hammering received by Pakistan at the hands of the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor last year forced the Pakistan Army to beg India for a ceasefire. This was revealed by a detailed European military analysis which was published last week by the Centre d’Histoire et de Prospective Militaires (CHPM). The CHPM is a Swiss think tank in Pully that was founded in 1969.

What did the report reveal on 'Operation Sindoor'?

Titled 'Operation Sindoor: The India-Pakistan air war', the report has been compiled by retired Swiss Air Force Major General Adrien Fontanellaz. The report revealed that India retained escalation dominance over Pakistan and was able to protect its air defence assets during the hostilities from May 7 to 10 last year. India also demonstrated its deep-strike capability without crossing the nuclear thresholds.

What happened during Operation Sindoor?

India bombed terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), following which the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) tried to target Indian infrastructures on the night of May 9. It targeted Indian positions located 100 to 150 kilometres from the border and the Line of Control (LoC), including air stations such as Adampur and Srinagar,

"It was relatively discreet, with the Indians employing Israeli-origin Harop and Harpy loitering munitions. Eight air-defence sites were struck on 8 May, and a further four the following day, resulting in the visually documented neutralisation of at least two early-warning radars at Chunian and Pasrur," the report said.

How did the IAF establish its superiority?

The report informed that five F-16 and JF-17 fighters of the PAF were shot down from May 7 to 10. The IAF also claimed to have struck at least one HQ-9 battery, it added.

"The cumulative effect of these operations was a drastic reduction in both the extent and quality of Pakistani airspace coverage, as several radars that remained intact ceased emissions to avoid attracting enemy strikes, thereby facilitating the potential penetration of a further escalation stage by Indian aviation.

"The Indian military was also able to detect Pakistan's preparations for attack and opted for a quasi-immediate counterstrike. The IAF struck Pakistan using BrahMos, SCALP-EG and Rampage missiles launched from within Indian airspace by Su-30MKIs, Jaguars and Rafales," the report said.

"The missiles struck seven sites up to 200 kilometres inside Pakistani territory, including one surface-to-air missile battery and five air bases. In north Pakistan, Nur Khan Air Base, near Islamabad, was hit by at least one missile, which destroyed a PAF command-and-control centre, while Murid Air Base, the hub of Pakistan’s MALE drone fleet, saw several hangars housing drones and a control centre struck," the report added.

"In central Pakistan, the small Rahim Yar Khan Air Base sustained several missile impacts on its runway, while the civilian airport terminal, which reportedly hosted a drone control centre, was also severely damaged. Rafiqi Air Base was also targeted, though the Indian side did not disclose specific objectives or damage inflicted. Finally, in the south, a hangar that housed drones and a radar at Sukkur Air Base were struck."