‘World must learn from India on how to start & terminate conflict’: IAF Chief AP Singh

The world has to learn a lesson from India on how to start and terminate a conflict at the earliest possible opportunity, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said on Friday, highlighting the clear goals set by India while carrying out Operation Sindoor.

In an address at an event, the Air Chief Marshal said full freedom was given to the military for the operation and that no restrictions were imposed on it by the political leadership.

Asserting that the primacy of the air power was on display during the May7-10 conflict with Pakistan, he said the S-400 missile system has turned out to be a game-changer as the enemy was in disarray in view of the range and power of the weapon.

Air Chief Marshal Singh said many of Pakistan’s military bases were damaged. “A lot of their infrastructure, radars, control and coordination centres, their hangars, aircraft, suffered a lot of damages,” he said.

The Indian Air Force chief also took a pot-shot at those who sought proof of the efficacy of the 2019 Balakot air strikes as he showed some graphic details of damages suffered by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

He said conflict termination was an important aspect of the operation against the backdrop of many wars across the globe continuing for a longer period.

He also rejected views that India should have continued its military operation against Pakistan. “We heard people saying we should have done a little more. We stopped the war very quickly. Yes, they (Pakistan) were on the back foot, there is no doubt about that, but what were our objectives? Our objective was anti-terrorism. We had to strike them. We had done that. So if our objectives have been met, then why should we not terminate a conflict? Why should we carry on? Because any conflict has a lot of price which has to be paid,” he said.

Singh said a continuation of the operation could have impacted “our preparedness for the next one.” “It will affect our economy. It will affect the general progress of the country.”

Citing various ongoing conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the IAF chief said the world was forgetting about their objectives when a war was started.

“Now their goal post is shifting. Egos are coming in between. And this is where I think the world has to learn a lesson from India on how to start and terminate a conflict at the earliest possible opportunity,” he said.

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10.

On impact of S-400 systems and other long-range missiles that India deployed during Operation Sindoor, the IAF chief said their impact was so strong that Pakistan could not operate their key platforms even in their own territory.

“They could never even come up to the weapon release range without being threatened and those who came had to face damage. So, this was a game-changer,” he said.

“I think one of the best things that happened was that there was political will. Our leadership gave us clear directions, and no restrictions were imposed. Full freedom was given to us to plan, and there was jointness; all the three services were sitting together, discussing together, planning together, along with the Chief of Defence Staff and other agencies,” he said.

The National Security Advisor (NSA) was a big part of doing that, he said adding “because of the cohesive efforts”, India achieved its objective.

“We were given terrorist targets. We accurately struck them. When our enemies refused to stop the war and tried to attack us, then we struck them nice and hard,” the IAF chief said.