Less than 50 Weapons Brought Pakistan to Talking Table: IAF Vice Chief
India had struck 11 air bases in Pakistan on May 10, after which Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted his Indian counterpart to request a ceasefire.
New Delhi: Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, on Friday stated that fewer than 50 weapons were used to bring Pakistan to the negotiating table during Operation Sindoor.
“We discussed a lot about cost-benefit, especially in the context of air power. There is no greater example than what we achieved in Operation Sindoor,” he said, adding that less than 50 weapons were enough to "bring an adversary to the talking table." He emphasised that the operation should be studied in detail, noting, “I am sure it will be studied subsequently, perhaps it is still too soon after the operation.”
He made these remarks during an interactive session at a seminar organised by the think-tank Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) and the College of Air Warfare.
India had struck 11 air bases in Pakistan on May 10, after which Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted his Indian counterpart to request a ceasefire.
Air Marshal Tiwari also commented on the future of air combat, asserting that manned fighter jets will continue to dominate over drones in modern warfare for the foreseeable future.
“I think manned platforms still hold a significant advantage and will continue to do so for some time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan affirmed that Operation Sindoor is "still ongoing" and emphasized the need for constant, high-level military preparedness.
“Our preparedness must remain at a very high level for 24x7, 365 days a year,” he said.
General Chauhan also highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, stating that future armed forces will require a new breed of personnel: “information warriors, technology warriors, and scholar warriors.” He added that the soldier of tomorrow must embody all three roles, an integration of information, technology, and academic proficiency.
“There are no runners-up in war,” the CDS warned, underlining the necessity for perpetual vigilance and operational readiness.