Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Saturday credited the “political will” of the central government as a decisive factor behind the success of Operation Sindoor, emphasizing that the Indian Armed Forces conducted the mission without any external restrictions.
His comments came amid criticism from opposition leaders, notably Rahul Gandhi, who recently questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve in Parliament.
"Political will was a major reason for success. There was extremely clear political will and directions given to us. No constraints were put on us. If there were any restrictions, they were self-restrictions. The forces themselves chose the rules of engagement and how to manage escalation. We had complete autonomy to plan and operate," Singh explained while speaking at an event at the HAL Management Academy in Bengaluru.
The Air Force chief also pointed out the leadership role the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) plays in bringing the Army, Navy, and Air Force together. "There was synchronization between the three forces. The position of CDS really played a role. He played the key role in uniting us. The National Security Advisor (NSA) too did play a big role in coordinating all agencies," he further added.
Singh emphasized the necessity of ending conflicts definitively. "Our aim was clear: to impart a lesson to terrorists so harsh that they would hesitate before acting again. Once those goals were achieved, it was essential to grab every chance to stop further escalation, instead of dragging conflict."
Looking back on the operation, he said, "We were actually in a roll that night. I've heard by many, including those who are close to me, they'd say 'Aur Marna Tha' [We should have hit more]."
Singh also termed the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system as a "game-changer," citing that Pakistan's aircraft and drones could not penetrate Indian air defenses because of the range of the system. "Due to the S-400 system, Pakistan has not yet been able to penetrate Indian air defense," he added.
Rahul Gandhi has previously blamed the Modi government for the absence of political will during Operation Sindoor, stating, "You told the Pakistanis exactly what you would do. You said you would not hit military targets, that you did not want escalation. This means you admitted you lack the political will to fight." He further claimed that political limitations were also responsible for the downing of Indian fighter aircraft.
Operation Sindoor was initiated by India on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead. The armed forces attacked terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, killing more than 100 terrorists of groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
It retaliated by initiating cross-border shelling, drone attacks, and air defense operations. India's counterattacks targeted radar facilities, communications centers, and airstrips on 11 Pakistani bases, including the strategic Nur Khan air base.
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