Operation Sindoor: Message Is Clear, Terrorism Not Acceptable, Says Former Air Chief Marshal

The core objective of Operation Sindoor was achieved very effectively, former Air Chief Marshal RK Singh Bhadauria said on Wednesday after India targeted nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"The message was to be given, that terrorism is not acceptable. Pahalgam is not acceptable," Bhadauria said in a conversation with NDTV Profit. "Therefore, it was important to achieve a successful hit on these targets in the very first attempt."

"That is the core objective—and it was achieved very effectively," he added.

His remarks came in response to Operation Sindoor — a high-precision tri-service military strike conducted in the early hours of Wednesday —targeting nine terrorist camps located across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The former air chief marshal emphasised the importance of hitting the targets accurately in the first attempt. "The assigned targets would have been analysed thoroughly — considering the best weapon and delivery method, and evaluating the deployment of enemy air defences. All this comes into play when planning such missions," he said.

Operation Sindoor was a rare joint initiative involving all three wings of the Indian armed forces — the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. "This was an integrated planning exercise to be able to target these nine sites successfully and effectively," Bhadauria said.

He explained that the operation was structured to utilise the strengths of each service, based on the nature and location of the targets. "They likely conducted a comprehensive study of the targets — what weapon systems are best suited, which platforms are optimal, and which service had the right delivery mechanisms," he said.

Bhadauria emphasised the significance of inter-service coordination. "What's crucial is the integration of all three services in achieving the right mix — leveraging core capabilities of each force. The Air Force, for instance, brings superior air defence and targeting flexibility to such missions," he said.

Core motive was that the terrorist targets that were chosen had to be struck and destroyed effectively, he said.

Commenting on the Indian Air Force's role, Bhadauria said: "Special capabilities, particularly precision weapons, are critical in such scenarios. The proximity of terrorist infrastructure to civilian areas demands careful planning to avoid collateral damage."

"Whatever targets get assigned to the Air Force, for those targets the right weapon and the right delivery means and the understanding, the deployment and how their Air Defence Action is currently deployed, all these actions will come into play on how to go about planning the mission," he said.

Special capabilities, as relevant in this scenario, would be the kind of precision weapons that the Air Force has to undertake for such targeting, according to Bhadauria.