New Delhi — National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, in a rare public address on a sensitive military operation, delivered a strong defence of ‘Operation Sindoor’ during the convocation ceremony at IIT Madras on Friday. The operation, a retaliatory cross-border air strike conducted on May 10, targeted Pakistani military and terror installations following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.
In his first public remarks on the operation, Doval described the mission as “precise” and “indigenous,” asserting that all 13 designated targets, including nine terrorist camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), were hit with “pinpoint accuracy” without any collateral damage on Indian soil.
“Not even a glass pane has been broken in India,” Doval said, dismissing critical international media coverage and challenging skeptics to provide any satellite imagery disproving the success of the operation. “You tell me one photograph, one image,” he said, adding that the mission was a testament to India’s growing technological and military capabilities.
According to Doval, key Pakistani military airbases such as Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Chaklala, and Rawalpindi were among the strategic locations struck during the 23-minute-long mission. He noted the use of advanced indigenous defence systems including BrahMos missiles, battlefield surveillance radars, and integrated air command and control systems.
“Some of our best systems were deployed,” Doval said. “We hit nine terrorist targets. We missed none.”
His comments also appeared to be a direct response to criticism from the Opposition, particularly Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had questioned the government on potential Indian Air Force (IAF) losses and lack of transparency following the operation.
Doval’s speech underlined India’s commitment to self-reliance in defence, aligning the success of Operation Sindoor with the broader ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative. He portrayed the mission not only as a tactical military victory but also as a strategic signal of India’s ability to deliver calibrated, high-precision responses to cross-border threats.
The NSA’s remarks are expected to bolster the government’s stance on national security and its assertive approach to terrorism emanating from across the border, while also showcasing the growing sophistication of India’s defence infrastructure.
