National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, addressing the convocation of IIT Madras on Friday, gave a bold thumbs up to Operation Sindoor — India's strong airstrike along the border following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.
Emphasizing the success of the operation, Doval mentioned that the mission caused extensive damage to Pakistani military infrastructure, focusing on airbases. He said 13 targets were hit, including nine terrorist bases located across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), all with precise accuracy and zero miss.
Denouncing the international media's characterization of the operation, Doval asserted India's technical prowess in executing targeted attacks and neutralizing cross-border dangers. "You show me one photo, one picture. They are satellite images from all over the world," Doval said in denouncing claims of Indian casualties. "Not even a pane of glass has been shattered in India," he added, targeting what he described as foreign biased reporting.
Speaking in reference to the top Pakistani airbases of Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Chaklala, and Rawalpindi, Doval confidently stated, "We are capable of doing that," indicating categorically that India not only had the capability but also the will to target high-value military installations during the operation of May 10.
Defining Operation Sindoor as "precise" and "indigenous," Doval pointed out the latest Indian systems employed in the operation — such as BrahMos missiles, battlefield surveillance radars, and integrated air command and control platforms. "We struck nine terror targets. We missed none," he added, emphasizing that the entire operation was carried out in 23 minutes.
This is the first public word from Doval on the operation and seems to be reacting, at least partially, to politicians like Rahul Gandhi who have challenged the Indian Air Force's claimed losses.
By projecting Operation Sindoor as a unified and impressive deployment of military strength, Doval also projected India's ascendant defence capabilities and strategic readiness. His statements also fit the government's overall objective of enhancing indigenous defence innovation under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
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