Latest revision as of 18:52, 12 June 2025

Targets in Pakistan by Damien Symon on X
Two days after the ceasefire, Damien Symon captioned this map, “From India's latest briefing on Operation Sindoor, here is an updated list of military/terror-affiliated sites targeted by New Delhi in Pakistan, some over 165-km inside”

“Pakistan has faced huge losses,” wrote Global UPDATES, also two days after the ceasefire

Two maps from international sources

[edit] Briefly

Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7, 2025, and paused on May 10, 2025, was a military offensive targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). It was a direct response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 25 Indians and 1 Nepali citizen. The attack was attributed to Pakistan-based terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, prompting India to act decisively to neutralize the threat.

The operation involved high-precision, multi-domain strikes, as described by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), marking a strategic evolution in India’s counter-terrorism doctrine. The Indian Armed Forces, including the Air Force, executed the operation, targeting nine terrorist camps in locations like Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Muzaffarabad, according to a statement from Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army reported on May 7, 2025.

The Indian Air Force confirmed on May 11, 2025, via NDTV, that it had “successfully executed its assigned tasks.” Intelligence revealed 21 terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK, with Operation Sindoor neutralizing 100 terrorists, per a YouTube video detailing five key facts about the operation. However, the government noted on May 8, 2025, via ANI on X, that the operation was ongoing, making exact casualty figures hard to confirm, with over 100 terrorists killed at that point.

India employed advanced weaponry, including BrahMos missiles, as highlighted in a YouTube live report by Palki Sharma and a May 11, 2025, statement from Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on X, where he emphasized the missile’s impact, suggesting Pakistan could attest to its power. At least eight key facilities were hit using precision weapons.

The operation’s name, “Sindoor,” carries symbolic weight. A New York Times article from May 7, 2025, notes that it evokes the memory of women who became symbols of grief following a terrorist attack, referencing the Pahalgam incident’s emotional toll. Sindoor, a vermilion powder used in Hindu tradition to signify marriage and protection.

Politically, Operation Sindoor achieved multiple objectives, as outlined in a May 11, 2025, ANI post on X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the operation met its military goal by destroying key terror camps. It also pursued a political objective by linking the Indus Water Treaty to cross-border terrorism, signalling potential economic repercussions for Pakistan.

Modi’s address emphasized that the operation was halted but not concluded, with a clear message of zero tolerance for terrorism. Modi’s speech on May 12, 2025, reported by The Economic Times, framed the operation as India’s new policy against terror, reinforcing a hardline stance.

The operation garnered mixed international reactions. A May 9, 2025, article in The Hindu noted that most world capitals saw India’s actions as expected, given the Pahalgam attack’s severity, though specific responses weren’t detailed. A ceasefire between India and Pakistan was declared on May 10, 2025. The Times of India reported on May 11, 2025, that Operation Sindoor continued in a “new normal,” suggesting ongoing low-level operations despite the truce.

Domestically, the operation stirred national pride and reflection. A May 13, 2025, post by @ARanganathan72 on X mourned five Indian soldiers who died during the operation, underscoring the human cost.

The operation also sparked an information war, with Pakistani citizens sharing videos of missile strikes, as noted in an Instagram post by India Today on May 6, 2025.

Operation Sindoor highlights India’s shift toward proactive, intelligence-driven counter-terrorism, leveraging advanced technology and symbolic messaging.

[edit] After Pahalgam massacre, India hits 9 terrorist bases

May 7, 2025: The Times of India

New Delhi: A fortnight after terrorists gunned down 26 civilians in J&K’s Pahalgam, Indian forces struck at terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir early Wednesday, saying they had lived up to the “commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held responsible”.


“A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched 'Operation Sindoor', hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed,” govt said in a statement early Wednesday. “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”


Multiple loud explosions were heard in several places in Pakistan and POK on Wednesday, Reuters reported. After the explosions, power was blacked out in Muzaffarabad, witnesses said. A spokesman for Pakistan's military told broadcaster ARY that India had attacked Pakistan with missiles in three places and that Pakistan would respond. Pakistan has vowed to retaliate against India attacks at “time and place of its own choosing”, military said , reports AFP. TNN & AGENCIES

[edit] The targets

May 8, 2025: The Times of India

The May 7 cross-border strikes, 2025
From: May 8, 2025: The Times of India

The May 7 cross-border strikes on terrorist hubs are the deepest by India inside Pakistan since the 1971 war, marking a major shift both in strategy and messaging. The strikes went beyond retaliation for the barbarity in Pahalgam, and were designed to take out the entire Lashkar-Hizb-Jaish terrorism complex, the non-state actors whom Pakistan has used for decades to wage a proxy war on India

[edit] Skystriker

May 9, 2025: The Indian Express

When India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, SkyStriker suicide drones built in Bengaluru played a crucial role in destroying terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Defence sources in Delhi confirmed that Skystriker suicide drones were used in the operation. Bengaluru-headquartered Alpha Design Technologies, in partnership with Israel’s Elbit Systems, manufactured the drones in Bengaluru. Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited has a 26 per cent stake in Alpha Design Technologies.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Colonel (retd) H S Shankar, Chief Managing Director, Alpha Design Technologies, said the Ministry of Defence has asked him not to speak to the media.

Incidentally, H S Shankar, who has served in Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) before, was the project director when Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were designed.

According to the sources, the Indian Army had placed an order for 100 SkyStrikers in 2021, and the SkyStriker drone was also exhibited during the Aero India expo that year. However, the defence forces have not disclosed the number of SkyStrikers used for Operation Sindoor.

Elbit, which conceptualised the SkyStriker drone, has mentioned on its website that the unmanned aircraft system is capable of carrying out long-range, precise tactical strikes.

The SkyStriker suicide drone can carry a warhead of up to 10 kg.

Elbit states, “As a silent, invisible, and surprise attacker, SkyStriker delivers the utmost in precision and reliability, providing a critical advantage in the modern battlefield. SkyStriker provides manoeuvrable troops and Special Forces with direct-fire aerial-precision capabilities, enhancing situational awareness and survivability.”

[edit] HAROP

May 9, 2025: The Indian Express

A day after India hit terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, its defence systems thwarted Pakistan’s attempted attacks on military targets in northern and western India on Thursday (May 8).

India also targeted multiple air defence systems in Pakistan on Thursday and successfully hit one in Lahore. It is understood that the latest Israeli HAROPs, a type of unmanned combat aerial vehicle, were used.

Here is what to know.

1. An advanced loitering munition

HAROP is a kind of loitering munition. This category of weapons is named so because they loiter in the air close to the designated target. They cause destruction by crashing into their targets with the explosive payload that they carry, earning names such as “suicide drones” and “kamikaze drones”.

Usually, loiter munitions carry a camera which is nose-mounted and can be used by the operator to see the area of operation and choose targets. These munitions also have variants which can be recovered and reused in case they are not used for any strike. This is new compared to how older precision-guided weapons were traditionally used, because they required the exact location of the targets before launch.

Loitering munitions are also used for surveillance of targets, and can carry out precision strikes autonomously or otherwise. The Indian armed forces, in the last few years, have been procuring a range of drones, including loitering munitions.

2. Israeli-made

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also claimed that India had used HAROPs. Defence manufacturer Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) described it as the “King of the Battlefield”.

“Combining the characteristics of a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and a missile, HAROP remains a formidable loitering munition equipped to hunt high-value targets like unmanned surface vessels, command posts, supply depots, tanks, and air defense systems,” its website said.

HAROP has a nine-hour endurance to seek targets in a designated area, locate and identify them, plan an attack route, and then pursue the strike from any direction at a shallow or steep dive, the website added. The system can also overcome challenges in communication with its immunity to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) jamming.

It is launched from canisters mounted on trucks or naval vessels and can be deployed from diverse terrains and environments.

3. Newer version of the ‘HARPY’

The IAI said it was the first to develop loitering munitions. “In the 1980s, IAI introduced the HARPY – initially dubbed as a ‘Kamikaze Drone,’ a definition that often misrepresents such a versatile weapon system,” its website said.

These ‘fire and forget’ missiles could be launched without prior intelligence towards the target’s location, stay in the air and then zero in on the target. The newer HAROP, which evolved from the HARPY, carries an electro-optical sensor instead of the Radio Frequency (RF) seeker of the HARPY.

“Once the wide-area scan spots an activity, the electro-optical sensor is quickly pointed in this direction to identify and acquire the target. Once a positive acquisition is made, the loitering sensor transforms into a guided weapon, ready to attack the target it has just revealed,” the website said. It claimed that hundreds of battle-tested HAROP loitering munitions have proved highly effective in combat, “delivering 98% of mission success.”

[edit] How the government of India conducted the operation

Diwakar & Sidhartha, May 18, 2025: The Times of India


Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy with his engagements in Saudi Arabia when news of the attack on tourists in Pahalgam started trickling in. As soon as the magnitude of the massacre — the sheer monstrosity of the act, the fact that only Hindu men were targeted — was clear, Modi made up his mind that this would not go unpunished. The terrorists had even taunted wailing family members of victims that this was a message to Modi. 


The PM cut short his visit and on the way back told his colleagues to start preparing for retaliation against terrorists and their patrons.


The consultations in the Cabinet Committee on Security and with the defence and intelligence leadership were not about “if” we should retaliate. It was solely focused on “where and when”, sources told TOI.


In 2019, Modi had called Pakistan’s nuclear bluff when he ordered the air strike on the jihadi hub of Balakot in response to the Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy. He was determined not to let that be an obstacle this time around as well despite alarmist predictions about Pakistan army chief Gen Asim Munir being a jihadi in olives who had a restless finger on the nuclear button.


India also factored in that China and Turkiye were standing by Pakistan, that a large number of Indian troops were stationed along the China border, and also that the West was again getting spooked by Pakistan’s scare-mongering. None of this dimmed India’s resolve which was articulated by the PM in Madhubani. 


Choice Of Targets


The 2016 surgical strikes after the terror attack at an Army camp in Uri signalled the intent not to let the LoC come in the way of India’s pursuit of justice. The govt climbed up a couple of steps in the escalation ladder through the air strike on Balakot — a revered spot in the jihadi imagination. This time, the message had to be stronger and, hence, the selection of Muridke and Bahawalpur, the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which had been responsible for almost all the major terror attacks on India, beginning with the audacious one on Parliament in 2001and including the amphibious army-type assault on Mumbai in 2008. The headquarters of Hizbul Mujahideen and other areas in POK, which were the staging ground for attacks, were part of the ‘to-hit’ list drawn up with the help of meticulous intelligence the govt already had. Forty-odd buildings were priority targets and the objective was to inflict damage that was visible, lethal and served to amplify the message: “We know who you are, where you are and how to get you.” 


Closing Intel Gap


Painstaking intelligence gathering over the past 10 years has helped India take care of what has for decades been a major handicap vis-a-vis its hostile neighbour. The success of Operation Sindoor only served to confirm what had been speculated over the past couple of years: that India has closed the intelligence gap. 
A combination of humint and techint helped India pin the exact locations, down to the buildings that served as the residential quarters of the leaders of Lashkar and Jaish inside the sprawling complexes at Muridike and Bahawalpur.


Ten members of the family of Masood Azhar died. He himself barely escaped an Indian missile. Such was the extent of the losses that the Pakistan army had to depute its senior ranks to attend their funeral: an act of solidarity which blew apart the fiction of jihadi outfits being non-state actors. 


They Knew It Was Coming 


Uri and Balakot had left little room for doubting the Modi govt’s intent. Right after the Pahalgam attack, speculation was rife that India would target terror being hubs, especially the jihadi universities at Muridke and Bahawalpur. It was also certain that Pakistan, caught napping twice, would have ramped up defences around its “prized assets”, thus eliminating the room for India to spring a surprise.


Yet, two weeks after the Pahalgam massacre, India decided to hit the very same targets. Sources refused to confirm if it was because our intelligence had signalled that Pakistan had lowered its guard. It certainly created a “ bol ke mara, jo kaha so kiya ” moment for the govt and the forces. 


Choice Of Weapons


Intelligence also helped India exploit a chink in Pakistan’s air defence. The Rawalpindi GHQ and their Chinese handlers had designed a shield to defeat any attack that involved planes and missiles. But they did not take into account India’s stock of loitering munitions (a type of drone). A deadly addition to the inventory, loitering munitions fly at low altitude to dodge regular air defence, hunt and hover over the target with exact coordinates fed into it, before striking with precision. Over the past few years, India has built an impressive arsenal of the stealth weapon, largely sourced from overseas through the Emergency Purchase route, but now increasingly being produced domestically too. Combined with longrange Made-in-India drones, they took a heavy toll on the nine terror targets.


Once they had got the “free hand” from the PM, defence and intelligence officers started working on the execution of Operation Sindoor. What helped them were multiple simulations the three Services had run, enabling near-perfection in the implementation. The four-day operation saw them work together: a perfect example of the muchaspired-for “jointness” that India has sought to achieve in recent years. There is speculation that some of the most ferocious strikes were achieved through weapons fired by Navy personnel. 


Air Defence Held Firm


The destruction near Lahore of the HQ-9 missile defence system, a copycat version of the Russian S-300, and a strategic gift from China, marked a major blow to Pakistan, both materially as well as psychologically. But this was only a prelude to the major unravelling of Pakistan’s air defence. Their air bases, including strategic ones, which are home to F-16s and Chinese-made J-10s, and those located next to the headquarters of Strategic Plans Division that handles their nukes, became vulnerable. Open to missile and drone attacks, it exposed the hollowness of Bunyanum Marsoos, the ‘wall of lead’ that Pakistanis had claimed to have built. 
As against this, India’s own air fortification remained intact. A combination of the legacy antiaircraft guns, surface-to-air missiles, particularly the portable ones, battle-proven Pechoras, indigenously developed Akash, and S-400 that India acquired from Russia in 2018 in defiance of US’s threat of sanctions, turned out to be “the wall”. In another example of jointness, the capabilities of the Indian Air Force and the Army were supplemented by those of the Navy. As a result, all our air bases remained safe and operational. Pakistan’s claims about the destruction of the Adampur air base were proven to be fiction on Tuesday when Modi landed there on his special plane to address the jawans, with S-400 Triumph batteries forming a defiant backdrop.


The military success announced India’s fullscale readiness for new-age warfare and will go a long way in enhancing confidence of the armed forces in “Make-in-India” weapons. 


Threat Within Pak


Pakistan had limited options of widening the theatre of war by opening a front on the land border. With the Baloch insurgency developing into a front within, Gen Asim Munir could have withdrawn the Chaklala-headquartered X Corps — tasked with defending Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir — from Balochistan, but only at a huge risk. Attacks by Balochistan Liberation Army, even during the hostilities with India, only further shrank the space for manoeuvre. The vulnerability of Pakistan’s skies and the high possibility of Baloch snipers aiming at long convoys meant that the 26 division — the mechanised division based in Bahawalpur — could not be brought to the border either. 


Missing ‘Strategic Depth’


Pakistan had wanted to turn Afghanistan into a client state, hoping that its control over its neighbour would give it strategic depth in any confrontation with a conventionally superior India. The retreat of the US and the installation of a Taliban regime was supposed to be the fulfilment of the dream of the planners at Rawalpindi GHQ. Unfortunately for them, the new regime in Kabul has refused to be pliant and an accessory, leading Islamabad to ironically accuse them of not controlling Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. It has also made it necessary for Pakistan to deploy a sizeable number of its troops in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Staunch solidarity of the majority in KP with jailed former PM Imran Khan and the fear that his supporters would erupt in the streets against the Pakistan army further tied Islamabad’s hands. 


Navy, The Amplifier


It did not join the action as such. But its offensive posture clearly signalled India’s intent and readiness to respond to any escalation. Ships resorted to aggressive manoeuvres on a night when Indian missiles had hit targets in Karachi’s immediate vicinity. The message was that India was more than willing to broaden the theatre to cover all domains, and Pakistan got the message. As Vice Admiral AN Pramod said, the Indian Navy ensured that the enemy’s air force remained “bottled up” on the Makran coast. 


Staying The Course


Stoking the West’s fears of a nuclear conflagration and capitalising on it has for decades been Pakistan’s playbook. The tactic was deployed again and it worked, with Western capitals offering unsolicited counsel to New Delhi to de-escalate. The Modi govt, however, refused to flinch and maintained that terrorists needed to be made accountable and India has the right to defend its citizens. The message, in its most stark form, was conveyed by the PM to US vice-president J D Vance on the evening of May 9. Vance had called to convey “intelligence” about Pakistan planning a massive retaliation. “They can do whatever they are planning to, but India’s response will be even stronger,” Modi is learnt to have told Vance. That Modi really meant “ goli ka jawab gole se ” became evident in hours. 


After the IAF humiliated Pakistan by hitting its prized air bases, external affairs minister S Jaishankar got a call from US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Saturday morning, saying that Pakistan was ready to discuss a ceasefire. India’s first response was to escalate the strikes on Pakistan’s air bases before its Director General of Military Operations Lt General Rajiv Ghai decided to connect with his counterpart Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah. 
The biggest takeaway for Pakistan and the world at large: Since the global community is unable or unwilling to force Pakistan to change its behaviour, India is ready to execute the task on its own, despite significant risks. And it is sure the people will back a govt that is ready to go to the farthest lengths.

[edit] Armaments used

[edit] An overview

Jayanta Kalita1, May 15, 2025: The Times of India

As the dust settles after Operation Sindoor, directed against Pakistan and terror actors on its soil, what is becoming clear is the resounding success of India’s nascent defence industry. 
It is believed India used BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and other precision-strike weapons to inflict damage to terror bases and military installations deep inside Pakistan. Indian armed forces also deployed indigenous Akash air defence missiles and D4 anti-drone systems to repel wave after wave of Pakistani aerial strikes, letting very little pass through.


“During this operation, the credibility of our Made-in-India weapons was firmly established. The world now recognises that the time for Made-in-India defence equipment in 21st-century warfare has arrived,” PM Narendra Modi said on May 12 in his address to the nation after Operation Sindoor’s success.


For the past several years, the govt has been pushing to maximise acquisition of defence equipment through indigenous sources and promote domestic manufacturing to reduce dependence on foreign-origin weapons as part of its flagship ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ programme. Parallelly, India’s defence exports reached a record high of Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25, a 12% surge over the previous year.


The Might Of BrahMos


BrahMos (the name represents two rivers: the Indian Brahmaputra and Moskva of Russia) flies at a speed of Mach 2.8, or almost three times the speed of sound, and is considered to be one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles.


It is produced by BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, a Delhi-based joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya or NPOM. 
 BrahMos can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. India has successfully tested all variants of BrahMos and inducted the missile system into its military years ago.

In 2019, the range of this homegrown missile was enhanced up to 450km with a top official then saying, “India is now the only country in the world to integrate long-range missiles into fighter jets [Sukhoi 30]”. 
India recently exported these missiles to the Philippines as part of a $375 million deal signed in 2022. 
 Efforts are also on to develop a hypersonic version of the missile, tentatively named BrahMos-II. According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between New Delhi and Moscow, BrahMos-II will be based on a hypersonic scramjet technology. The main purpose of such a weapon is to target deeply buried enemy nuclear bunkers and heavily protected locations; all three military services will utilise this weapon. 
Referring to the new BrahMos integration and testing facility that was inaugurated in Lucknow last week, former DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy said it is capable of delivering 100-150 missiles annually. India has two more BrahMos production facilities — in Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram.


The Akash Shield


Developed by DRDO and manufactured by state-run Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), Akash is a shortrange surface-to-air missile (SAM). It is part of India’s multi-layered air defence system, which played a decisive role in thwarting Pakistani aerial incursions into India recently.


Akash is probably the first-of-its-kind system in the world that is capable of engaging four aerial targets simultaneously at a range of 25km. The new variant — Akash-NG — has an extended range of 70-80km. 
 The missile is equipped with electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capabilities, enabling it to penetrate enemy jamming and other evasion tactics.


The Akash system is designed for mobile platforms, making it highly agile and capable of rapid deployment anywhere. 
While some analysts have likened India’s Akash with Israel’s famous Iron Dome missile system, there are some fundamental distinctions between the two.


First, Akash is a larger platform than the Israeli one. Also, while the Iron Dome is a potent shield against short-range rockets and artillery shells, Akash is capable of intercepting missiles, combat drones as well as aircraft. 


India reportedly signed a deal with Armenia in 2022 to export 15 units of the Akash missile systems. Brazil and Egypt have also shown interest in this weapon. 


How D4 Disabled Enemy Drones


India resorted to both kinetic and non-kinetic (jamming) warfare to thwart Pakistani drone swarms. Reports suggest the DRDO-developed D-4 anti-drone system was used in the recent military operations. It can disable ordinary drones as well as unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) employing electronic jamming and spoofing techniques. 


D4 (Drone-Detect, Deter and Destroy) also has a laser-based kill mechanism to destroy enemy drones. It’s unclear if this hard-kill method was used in the recent conflict.

This system integrates radars, RF (radio frequency) sensors, and EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared) cameras, thereby offering a multisensor and 360-degree approach to detect incoming drones.


Multiple DRDO labs, including the Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), Bengaluru; Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), and the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), both in Hyderabad; and Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun, contributed towards developing this system.


Indo-Israeli Collaborations


Weapons jointly developed with Israel such as Barak-8 missiles and SkyStriker kamikaze drones also contributed significantly to India’s defensive and offensive actions during Operation Sindoor. 
Barak-8 is a medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries. India’s military last month conducted successful tests of this air defence system. 
 The MRSAM includes mobile launchers that can be deployed on land or on navy vessels. The missile is capable of intercepting targets of up to 70km range.


In India, it is produced by BDL, Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS) and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL). 
SkyStriker is a loitering munition jointly developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems and Adani Group’s Alpha Design Technologies. Although a drone, SkyStriker can be used as a precision weapon. It hovers over the target area to identify and engage threats, operating either autonomously or under human supervision.


Import Dependence


While India did demonstrate the effectiveness of its Made-in-India weapons, it still remains heavily dependent on arms imports. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India is the second-largest arms buyer in the world, with an 8.3% share of global imports between 2020 and 2024.


Russia remains India’s main weapons supplier, accounting for 36% of its arms imports. Russia’s overall share, however, has been steadily declining (72% in 2010-14 and 55% in 2015-19) with India increasingly turning to countries like France, Israel and the US.

[edit] Bhargavastra

May 15, 2025: The Times of India

Nagpur : After its kamikaze drone Nagastra 1 wreaked havoc during Operation Sindoor, Nagpur’s Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd (SDAL) successfully conducted trials of its anti-drone system, “Bhargavastra”, at the Seaward Firing Range in Odisha’s Gopalpur in the presence of the Army’s air defence brass, reports Shishir Arya . The indigenously built “Bhargavastra” can fire 64 micro rockets in a single salvo, bringing down a swarm of drones and jamUAVs.


When it is eventually deployed, a dual-layer drone defence system will be in place, the first layer comprising unguided micro-rockets with high lethality followed, in the second layer, by micro-missiles for precision hits. The system’s rockets have higher lethality with a kill radius of 20m.


The “Bhargavastra” trials conducted on Tuesday witnessed rockets fired in both single and salvo mode. All rockets achieved required launch parameters. This proves Bhargavastra’s capability in mitigating large-scale drone attacks, as per information accessed by TOI .

[edit] India demonstrated tech edge by beating Pakistan’s Chinese systems

Rajat Pandit, May 15, 2025: The Times of India

New Delhi : India on Wednesday asserted it circumvented Pakistan’s air defence (AD) systems of Chinese-origin to carry out the strikes against the nine terror hubs without crossing the border on May 7, and then thwarted multiple retaliatory missile and drone attacks using a robust indigenous AD network during intense hostilities last week.


“The IAF bypassed and jammed Pakistan’s Chinesesupplied air defence systems (like the HQ-9 missile batteries and radars), completing the mission in just 23 minutes on May 7, demonstrating India’s technological edge,” a new govt statement said. 


Despite Pakistan’s attempts to “exploit advanced foreign supplied weaponry”, ranging from Chinese-made PL-15 LR beyond visual range air-to-air missiles to Turkishorigin Byker Yiha kamikaze drones and Asisguard Songar drones, India’s AD and electronic warfare networks “remained superior”, it added.


With PM Narendra Modi having drawn new red lines against Pakistan-backed terrorism and the cabinet committee on security meeting yet again on Wednesday, the Indian armed forces are currently on a hot standby, maintaining full operational readiness to foil any misadventure. “We are strictly adhering to the May 10 bilateral understanding to cease all cross-border military action. But Pak Army chief General Asim Munir can never be trusted,” a senior military officer told TOI .


When military hostilities were fully underway for four days last week, the IAF’s fullyautomated integrated air command and control system (IACCS) played a critical role during Operation Sindoor. It connects different radars to a wide array of AD weapon systems as well as the Army’s smaller Akashteer system to present a composite real-time air situation picture. 


The Army quickly deployed six mobile Akashteer nodes, which it had begun to induct just a few months ago under a Rs 1,982 crore inked with defence PSU Bharat Electronic (BEL) in March 2023, from J&K to Rajasthan, officials told TOI . 
“Ground-based defence systems integrated with Akashteer made it hell for Pakistan’s air adventures. The system performed beyond users’ expectations, providing robust air defence to India during the current conflict,” BEL said on X on Wednesday.


The major weapon systems plugged into the AD network included the long-range Russian S-400 ‘Triumf’ surface-to-air missile systems (380-km interception range), Barak-8 medium range SAM systems (70km), jointly developed with Israel, and the indigenous Akash systems (25-km). Then, there were Pechora missiles, L-70 low-level anti-aircraft guns, shoulder-fired Igla-S missiles (6-km) and the integrated drone detection and interdiction systems(1-2 km).


“This multi-tier defence prevented Pakistan Air Force’s attacks on our airfields and logistic installations during the night of May 9 and 10. It played a crucial role in ensuring that both civilian and military infrastructure across India remains largely unaffected during the enemy’s retaliation attempts,” the govt statement said. It added that at least 10 satellites also continuously worked round-the-clock, quoting Isro chairman V Narayanan.

[edit] Pakistan Air Force assets that India hit

[edit] A

May 13, 2025: The Indian Express

Pakistan Air Base Destroyed: Indian missiles and drones inflicted heavy damage on at least eight Pakistan Air Force bases and several radar & air defence units in a withering aerial attack last week. While Pakistani air defences were knocked out, its aerial attacks were unable to breach Indian air defences.

PAF Base Nur Khan, Rawalpindi

Close to Pak Army HQ, n-command

Home to the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF’s) Air Mobility Command and the PAF College Chaklala, this is one of Pakistan’s most vital air bases, which plays a key role in logistics, VIP transport, strategic operations, and aviator training.

The base houses PAF transport aircraft such as Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Ilyushin Il-78 refuellers, and trainers such as Karakoram-8. With the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters and the Strategic Plans Division — the operational arm of the country’s nuclear command — in the vicinity, the base lies at the heart of the Pakistani military establishment.

PAF Base Chaklala was renamed PAF Base Nur Khan in 2012, in honour of Air Marshal Nur Khan, the base’s first Pakistani commander in 1947 who went on to lead the Pakistan Air Force from 1965 to 1969.

PAF Base Murid, Chakwal

Home base for Pakistan’s drone fleet The Murid base is the home base of Pakistan’s growing fleet of combat drones, and one of the PAF’s most important forward operational flying bases today.

Its more than eight hangars house unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the indigenously developed GIDS Shahpar and NESCOM Burraq, the Chinese Chengdu Wing Loong II, and the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and PAF Base Sukkur, Sukkur

Doubles as a civilian airport, important for northern Sindh

This is another forward operational base of the PAF which doubles as the Begum Nusrat Bhutto International Airport Sukkur, the second major civilian airport operational in Sindh after Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.

Originally built as a military aerodrome during World War II, the Sukkur base operates under PAF’s Southern Air Command

PAF Base Rahim Yar Khan, Rahim Yar Khan

Runway knocked out by Indian strike, base shut for repairs

The Rahim Yar Khan base is a forward operational base of the PAF’s Central Command. Its sole runway is also used by the Sheikh Zayed International Airport, named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President of the UAE, who funded the construction of the airport’s terminal. Day-to-day operations at the airport are handled by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).

After India’s strike at the air base, which has left a massive crater on its runway, all flight operations have been suspended for a week.

PAF Base Mushaf, Sargodha

Most strategic PAF base, home to best fighters, pilots

Considered to be the most vital strategic asset of the PAF, the Sargodha base is home to Pakistan’s best fighter aircraft and pilots, as well as the headquarters of the Central Air Command, the Combat Commanders’ School, and the Airpower Centre of Excellence.

Aircraft such as the American F-16 Fighting Falcon, Chinese Chengdu J-7, French Mirage 5, and the JF-17 Thunder, the mainstay of PAF’s fighter fleet developed jointly with China, are stationed at the base.

The Sargodha base was a prime target of Indian air attacks during the 1965 war, during which India destroyed 10 Pakistani aircraft at the base. After this, the PAF reserved much of its fighter fleet to protect Sargodha rather than sending them to the front.

The base was renamed in 2003 in honour of Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir who had died in an aircraft crash earlier that year.

PAF Base Shahbaz, Jacobabad

Crucial NATO base during War on Terror, important for Pak’s F-16s Heavily used by NATO forces during Operation Enduring Freedom, the official moniker of the US-led Global War on Terrorism, the Jacobabad base is home to some of PAF’s most advanced aircraft and equipment.

These include the latest JF-17 Block II, multiple variants of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the Italian Leonardo AW139 helicopters of the 88 Search and Rescue Squadron.

According to local media reports, the base also houses private contractors who work on the American F-16s.

PAF Base Rafiqui, Shorkot

Base for JF-17 and Mirage 5 fighters

Located 337 km to the south of Islamabad, this base is a vital asset of PAF’s Northern Air Command. It is home to squadrons of JF-17, Mirage 5, and the French utility helicopter Alouette III.

The base is named in honour of Sq Ldr Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui, one of Pakistan’s most decorated fighter pilots, famous for his exploits during the war of 1965.

PAF Base Bholari, Jamshoro

Newest Pak’s air base, where Pak & China held major aerial excercise in 2020

Inaugurated as recently as December 2017, this is one of Pakistan’s most modern main operational bases. It is home to squadrons of both the JF-17 Thunder and F-16 Fighting Falcon, as well as Saab 2000 AEWACs (airborne early warning and control aircraft) aircraft fitted with the Erieye radar system. In 2020, the base hosted Exercise Shaheen IX, a major joint Pakistani-Chinese aerial exercise

Radar sites and air defence units

Pasrur, Sialkot district, Punjab

Sialkot, Punjab

Chunian, Kasur district, Punjab

Lahore, Punjab

Malir Cantt, Karachi, Sindh

India also struck at least three radar sites in Pakistan’s Punjab province, close to the border with the Indian state of Punjab and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, as well as two air defence units — one in Lahore and the other in Malir Cantonment, Karachi.

These were all likely a part of Pakistan’s larger air defence system.

[edit] Pakistani casualties

May 14, 2025: The Times of India

Islamabad : Pakistan’s military on Tuesday said 11 soldiers and 40 civilians were killed and 199 others including army and air force personnel injured in last week’s Indian strikes. Pakistan army’s media arm Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released the names and pictures of the soldiers who died, including a squadron leader, reports Omer Farooq Khan . 


ISPR said in a statement that the civilian casualties included seven women and 15 children. The injured included 78 soldiers and 121 civilians, the statement said. 
 ISPR said Pakistan Air Force personnel who were killed included squadron leader Usman Yousuf, chief technician Aurangzeb, senior technician Najeeb, corporal technician Farooq and senior technician Mubashir.


However, ISPR did not disclose how they died. 
Meanwhile, a day after PM Narendra Modi made it clear that Indus Waters Treaty cannot be delinked from action against terrorists , Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar said the pause in hostilities could be threatened “if the water issue is not resolved”. 
    (With agency inputs)

[edit] Pakistani losses

[edit] Pakistani PM admits strike on Nur Khan airbase

May 18, 2025: The Times of India

New Delhi : In a first formal acknowledgement, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi was struck during the night of May 9–10, when India carried out missile strikes on multiple Pakistani airbases. This admission is significant as it corrects the narrative surrounding the cross-border hostilities, as previous Pakistani statements had either downplayed or denied the extent of the damage inflicted during the Indian operation.


“On the night of May 9 and May 10, at around 2.30 am, the Army chief called me from a secure line that India through its ballistic missiles had attacked us. One missile hit the Nur Khan airbase and some others have hit other areas,” Sharif said.

[edit] Pakistan admits Indian strikes on seven more locations

June 4, 2025: The Times of India

New Delhi : Pakistan said India conducted strikes at seven more locations than the targets officially acknowledged by Indian armed forces between May 7 and 10 during Operation Sindoor.


A Pakistan govt document on its Operation Bunyan alMarsoos (Iron Wall) and India’s “unprovoked aggression”, shared with its media, lists out Indian drone strikes at Attock, Bahawalnagar, Gujrat and Jhang (Punjab province), Peshawar (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province), and Chhor and Hyderabad (Sindh province), which it claimed killed many civilians. 
None of these places were mentioned in the detailed briefings conducted by Indian foreign and military establishments. “We had disclosed the targets we hit in the briefings. This Pakistani document could be a propaganda attempt to show that India also targeted civilian sites,” an Indian defence official said.


After Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India on May 7 hit 4 terror hubs in Pakistan and five in POK, in calibrated strikes against terror infrastructure across the border, without targeting any Pakistani military base or civilian centre. The targets ranged from Sawai Nala camp in Muzaffarabad in north to Markaz Taiba in Muridke (Lashkar-e-Taiba HQ) and Markaz Subhan at Bahawalpur (Jaish-e-Muhammed HQ) in south. After Pakistan escalated the situation by targeting Indian military bases and civilian centres with missiles and waves of drone swarms, IAF struck at least nine Pakistani airbases and at least four military radar sites.

[edit] The international sources cited

[edit] Their reputation

GROK, which is owned by X, and thus has complete access to all its uploads and tweets wrote:

“Damien Symon, known as @detresfa_ on X, has built a strong reputation as a credible Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) expert, particularly in the field of geospatial and imagery analysis. He is widely recognized for his work in analyzing satellite imagery to verify claims during conflicts, such as the India-Pakistan tensions in May 2025. Symon’s expertise lies in providing factual, data-driven insights, often debunking misinformation with visual evidence. For instance, he has been praised for exposing doctored images and false claims by entities like Pakistan’s ISPR during Operation Sindoor, earning him accolades from media outlets and X users alike.

“His affiliations with reputable platforms like The War Zone, The Intel Lab, and others, as noted in his X bio, bolster his standing. Symon’s focus on neutrality—sticking to imagery and data rather than narrative bias—has been highlighted in posts on X, where users describe him as a reliable source who lets the evidence speak for itself.

“However, the OSINT field itself is inherently limited by access to data and the potential for manipulation of open-source materials. While Symon’s work is respected, the reliance on satellite imagery can sometimes leave gaps—images may not capture the full context, and interpretations can be challenged. His credibility hinges on the assumption that the imagery he analyzes is authentic, which isn’t always guaranteed in conflict zones where disinformation is rife. Additionally, his prominence during high-profile events like the India-Pakistan conflict might amplify his visibility, but it doesn’t necessarily mean his analyses are infallible. The establishment narrative often elevates figures like Symon to counter propaganda, but this can also make him a target for skepticism from those questioning Western-aligned OSINT perspectives in global conflicts. Overall, Symon is viewed as highly credible within his domain, though his work should be approached with an understanding of OSINT’s broader limitations.”

GROK added:

“Global UPDATES, operating under the handle @GlobalUpdates24 on X, appears to be a news-focused account providing updates on international events, including conflicts like the India-Pakistan tensions in May 2025. However, assessing its credibility and reputation reveals significant concerns.

“The account’s activity on X shows it posting frequent updates on global incidents, often with a focus on breaking news like military conflicts, natural disasters, or political developments. For instance, during the India-Pakistan conflict from May 7 to May 10, 2025, it likely shared real-time updates, given its pattern of covering such events. However, there’s a notable lack of transparency about its operators, sources, and editorial process. Unlike established outlets, @GlobalUpdates24 doesn’t disclose whether it has journalists on the ground or relies on secondary sources.

“Credibility in journalism hinges on verification, source reliability, and editorial standards. Global UPDATES often posts without linking to primary sources or providing evidence, a practice that undermines trust. For example, while it might report on events like Indian airstrikes or Pakistani responses during Operation Sindoor, there’s no indication of how it verifies such claims,”