Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the Chief of the Air Staff, has asserted that Operation Sindoor delivered undeniable proof of the damage India inflicted on Pakistan, marking what he called a decisive moment that “took care of the ghost of Balakot.” Speaking at an event in Bengaluru on Saturday, Singh emphasised that, unlike the 2019 Balakot air strikes—where intelligence evidence could not be publicly shared to everyone’s satisfaction—this time there was clear and verifiable proof that left “no room for doubt.”
In a pointed reference widely seen as aimed at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, the Air Force chief noted that the operation had allowed India’s defence forces to silence scepticism by placing evidence before both domestic and international audiences. “In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we had been able to achieve,” Singh explained. He recalled how, despite having reliable intelligence of significant terrorist casualties, the inability to present hard evidence had sparked controversy. “So I’m very happy that this time we were able to tell the world what we have achieved,” he said.
Operation Sindoor, which unfolded throughout roughly 80 to 90 hours, involved sustained high-intensity air strikes deep into Pakistani territory. According to Singh, the damage was so extensive that it prompted Pakistan to reach out directly to India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to seek talks aimed at halting the conflict. “They came forward and sent a message… this was accepted on our side,” he confirmed.
Responding to critics who argued that the strikes should have continued, Singh defended the government’s decision to pause the operation once its primary objectives had been met. “People got down to their egos in the war. Our objective was very clear – to teach terrorists a lesson so they think twice before doing anything. Once we achieved that, we should have looked for all windows of opportunity to stop,” he said. Recounting private conversations, he revealed that even close associates told him, “Aur maarna tha” (“We should have hit more”), but he countered with a strategic question: “Why should we be at war when we can stop it?”
Singh also shed light on the Air Force’s operational reach and readiness during the strikes. He said that Pakistan’s aircraft did not even come close to breaching India’s air defence parameters, underscoring the overwhelming control the IAF maintained during the engagement. “That night we didn’t have any hold bar. We would stretch resources to give him the indication that we can attack deep inside, at will,” Singh stated. He cited the attack on Bholari—home to an AEW&C hangar—as a key moment, noting that intelligence suggested there was an aircraft present at the time of the strike.
The Air Chief Marshal’s comments came against the backdrop of ongoing political debate, with Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, demanding greater clarity on the specifics of Operation Sindoor. In Parliament last week, Gandhi alleged that the government had restricted the Air Force’s operational scope, claiming that pilots were sent in “without allowing them to neutralise” Pakistan’s air defence systems—an approach he described as “tying their hands behind their backs.”
In a swift counterattack, BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the Opposition of undermining the armed forces. “Imagine — our brave armed forces risk their lives in #OperationSindoor, deliver a crushing blow to terror, and yet face doubt from within the country. The Opposition and Rahul Gandhi in particular owe an apology,” Malviya said in a post on X.
The broader political context of Singh’s remarks recalls the aftermath of the Balakot strike in February 2019, which followed the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel. At the time, the government asserted that a significant number of terrorists had been killed in the Balakot operation, but Opposition parties sought proof, pointing to conflicting media reports and the absence of released visual evidence. This lingering controversy came to be known as the “ghost of Balakot,” a shadow Singh now believes has been dispelled.
By publicly releasing evidence from Operation Sindoor and highlighting its decisive outcomes, Singh has positioned the mission not only as a tactical victory but also as a rebuttal to years of political and public doubt. As the political sparring continues, the operation’s details are likely to remain central to the government’s narrative on national security in the months ahead.
