What happened?
Senior officials from India’s armed forces held a press briefing to address Operation Sindoor and respond to misinformation from Pakistan. The briefing was led by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, with Commodore Raghu R Nair, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh providing operational updates. Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force have been instructed to adhere to the ceasefire. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi refuted Pakistan’s claims about damage to India’s strategic assets, stating that assertions regarding S-400 and BrahMos bases, as well as airfields and ammunition depots, were baseless. Colonel Qureshi also emphasized that India respects all places of worship and that the armed forces have not caused any harm to religious structures. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated that Indian operations targeted terrorist facilities, not civilian or religious infrastructure, and detailed the damage inflicted on Pakistan’s airbases and air defence systems.
Why it matters to India
India’s armed forces are committed to the ceasefire agreement but remain vigilant and prepared to respond to any misadventure. The press briefing aimed to counter false narratives and provide transparency regarding Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor involved strikes on terror bases and military assets across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. The operation targeted infrastructure linked to terrorist groups and resulted in damage to key targets, as shown in satellite images released by the Indian armed forces. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the operation neutralised leadership and infrastructure. Tensions escalated after Pakistan’s alleged response, but India struck deeper into Pakistani territory, targeting military assets.