Hailing Operation Sindoor as a proud moment for India, National Security Advisor (NSA)Ajit Doval on Friday challenged foreign media to show one photo of damage within the country dismissing critics claims of collateral damage. “Show me even one photo of Indian damage — even a glass being broken,” Doval said on Friday, questioning claims that the operation caused unintended destruction beyond the planned targets. He made this assertion while addressing the 62nd Convocation of IIT Madras.
India hit nine terror targets crisscrossing Pakistan with precision and missed none of them during Operation Sindoor, the NSA said, taking pride in India’s capability and technological abilities in neutralising the threats from across the border.
The precision was to the point where India knew who was where, and the entire operation lasted hardly 23 minutes past 1 am on May 7, he said.
“Thereafter, they said Pakistan did this and so on. Can you tell me of one image or photograph that shows any damage to India,” Doval asked.
India launched Operation Sindoor on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), post the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 persons, mostly tourists, were killed.
Addressing the students, Doval also said the link between technology and warfare was very important, and that the country should develop indigenous technology to meet its requirements.
Referring to the earlier speaker, Padma Subrahmanyam-Padma Vibhushan awardee and legendary danseuse — congratulating him for the success of Operation Sindoor and evoking thunderous applause from the students and graduands, the NSA said, “I am really proud of it (Operation Sindoor). Much of it was driven by indigenous content.”
“We are proud of it — that some of our best systems worked, whether it was BrahMos (missiles), the integrated air control and command system, or battlefield surveillance. We decided on nine terrorist targets, not in the border areas but in the crisscross of Pakistan, and we missed none.”
No unintended site was struck, and the strike was precise to the point where “we knew who was where. And the entire operation lasted for 23 minutes,” he said.
In a subtle rebuttal to international media coverage questioning the operation’s effectiveness, the NSA said, “They wrote what they wanted. But satellite images tell the real story-that 13 Pakistan airbases, before and after May 10, show exactly what happened.”
Doval said the 23-minute operation struck exactly nine designated targets deep inside Pakistan, away from the border, in a criss-cross pattern. “We missed none, and hit nowhere else,” he added, stressing the precision of the mission.
“They wrote these things, New York Times... and put out things..The images only showed 13 air bases in Pakistan before and after 10th May, whether it was in Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Chaklala...I am only telling you what the foreign media put out on the basis of images...We are capable of doing that (damage to Pakistani air bases),” he said.
“We are proud of how much indigenous technology we used. The operation was precise to the point and nowhere near the border areas, contrary to what foreign media said,” he noted. The Indian Air Force hit nine key terror hubs deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad headquarters in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s key base in Muridke. In response, Pakistan attempted a counter with drone and missile attacks, all of which were intercepted by India’s air defence systems.
The escalation culminated in an Indian strike on 11 Pakistani air bases, marking one of the most significant cross-border operations in recent times.
Earlier, speaking at the convocation, Padma Subrahmanyam said the historic victory of Operation Sindoor was a manifestation of adherence to the valour that the Bhagavad Gita preaches.
“As a proud Indian, I have always offered my salutations to our jawans, who are our national guardian angels,” she said, congratulating Doval for his role in the operation.
At the event, Doval said the country could not afford to lose the technology battle and remain behind or fall decades behind others.
He acknowledged the role of IIT, Madras and the private sector in developing 5G in two-and-a-half years’ time, whereas the Chinese took over 12 years and spent 300 billion dollars to develop 5G technology.
“Even a screw that deals with anything related to data or security protection must come from a trusted source. It is either made in India or by somebody who is very close to India,” he added, emphasising the need to totally insulate our system from the enemy.