Retired Lt Gen KJS Dhillon described Operation Sindoor as a decisive strategic victory for India. Conducted on May 10, the operation involved precision missile strikes on 11 key Pakistani airbases. According to him, none of India’s missiles were intercepted by Pakistan’s air defence systems, exposing significant vulnerabilities in their layered air-defence network.

Dhillon emphasised that the inability of the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) to intercept a single incoming missile was a clear marker of India’s success. Not only did Pakistan’s air-defence grid fail, but its Air Force assets also remained grounded, unable to sortie and challenge Indian projectiles. This reflected both technological and operational superiority on India’s part.

Following the strikes, Pakistan quickly sought a ceasefire. Dhillon revealed that at 3:35 PM on May 10, Pakistan’s DGMO directly phoned India’s DGMO, virtually “begging for a cessation of hostilities.” This was followed by diplomatic appeals to the United States and Saudi Arabia for mediation. India, however, stuck to its established position of rejecting third-party involvement, insisting on bilateral resolution.

Operation Sindoor was launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people. India’s response was both direct and escalatory, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). Beyond neutralising identified terror bases, the strikes focused deliberately on Pakistan Air Force airbases, denying them any capacity to launch a counter-offensive.

Lt Gen Dhillon alleged that Pakistan’s Army chief, General Asim Munir, concealed himself within a bunker during the strikes, avoiding public presence. Remarkably, just 10 days after the ceasefire, Munir promoted himself to the extraordinary rank of Field Marshal on May 20. He became Pakistan’s second field marshal after Ayub Khan, but the first to do so while still serving as Army chief, a move perceived as self-protection from scrutiny.

Dhillon mocked Munir’s elevation, describing it as an attempt to shield reputational damage after the military’s failure. He further highlighted that Western nations’ engagement with the Pakistani military leadership—such as the U.S. President inviting Munir for lunch—showed how foreign capitals continue to rely on Pakistan’s Army despite its record of repeated defeat.

The retired general underlined Pakistan’s historic inability to secure a victory in any conflict with India. He recalled that the 1971 war remains the world’s largest post-WWII surrender, involving 93,000 Pakistani troops. Operation Sindoor, in his view, continued this pattern of military humiliation, where Pakistan’s aggressive posture ended with rapid retreat and diplomatic appeals.

Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s growing ability to undertake precise, high-intensity punitive operations with minimal exposure. By neutralising multiple airbases in a coordinated strike package, India proved both its technological readiness and its will to impose costs across the border. The operation also reinforced India’s diplomatic stance of resolving disputes without external mediation, even as Pakistan sought third-party support.

Timeline of Operation Sindoor

April 22, 2025

A major terror attack in Pahalgam kills 26 people, triggering nationwide outrage in India.
India’s leadership decides on a calibrated but forceful military response targeting terror infrastructure and strategic assets inside Pakistan and PoJK.

Late April – Early May 2025

Indian security establishment identifies targets, including terror bases, Pakistani airbases, and associated infrastructure.
Military planning emphasises precision strikes with standoff weapons to avoid attrition and ensure swift dominance.

May 10, 2025 – Morning

Operation Sindoor is launched.

Indian forces conduct coordinated, precise missile strikes on 11 Pakistani airbases, along with terror camps.
Strikes penetrate Pakistan’s air defence uninterrupted, as no Indian missile is intercepted.
The Pakistan Air Force fails to scramble aircraft, remaining grounded throughout the attack window.

May 10, 2025 – 3:35 PM

Pakistan’s DGMO establishes urgent contact with India’s DGMO.
Communication is described as a virtual “plea” for ceasefire, marking acknowledgment of Pakistan’s inability to sustain conflict escalation.

May 10–11, 2025

Pakistan initiates diplomacy with the United States and Saudi Arabia, seeking immediate mediation and intervention for ceasefire.
India reiterates its consistent policy of rejecting third-party involvement and asserts that disputes will only be resolved bilaterally.

May 11–19, 2025

Calm gradually restores along borders after cessation of hostilities.
Pakistan’s military and political leadership face intense domestic scrutiny over operational failures. Reports circulate about the Army chief, General Asim Munir, staying inside a bunker during the strikes.

May 20, 2025

General Asim Munir elevates himself to the unprecedented position of Field Marshal while still serving as the Army chief.
He becomes only the second person in Pakistan’s history to hold the title after Ayub Khan, but his elevation is viewed as a self-protective move aimed at consolidating authority amid loss of public confidence.

Based On ANI Report