Ajit Doval Challenges Foreign Media: Show One Photo of Damage in India from Op Sindoor
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has strongly defended the precision and purpose of Operation Sindoor, launched in response to a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Speaking at the 62nd Convocation of IIT Madras, Doval called the mission a testament to India’s indigenous capabilities and strategic maturity, while daring foreign media to present even a single image of damage on Indian soil.
The operation, conducted on May 7, was India’s answer to a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead. The Indian Air Force launched a 23-minute strike targeting nine terror hubs deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These included the Jaish-e-Mohammad headquarters in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muridke.
Doval asserted that the operation was highly surgical and targeted, with no collateral damage on the Indian side. “Show me even one photo of Indian damage — even a glass being broken,” he challenged, dismissing reports in outlets like The New York Times that suggested unintended destruction.
He underlined that the strikes hit exactly nine pre-marked targets located far from the border, using a criss-cross strike pattern. “We missed none, and hit nowhere else,” he said, adding that the level of accuracy reflects how far India’s defense capabilities have evolved.
The NSA also highlighted the indigenous nature of the operation. “We are proud of how much Indian technology we used,” Doval said, framing the mission as a moment of national pride and technical self-reliance.
Refuting claims of cross-border escalation or recklessness, Doval stated, “They (foreign media) said we hit near border areas. That is false. The strikes were deep inside Pakistan.” He referenced satellite images released by international agencies showing activity at 13 Pakistani airbases, including Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, and Chaklala, both before and after May 10.
Pakistan attempted a counteroffensive using drones and missiles, but Indian air defense systems reportedly intercepted all incoming threats, avoiding any casualties or damage.
The climax of the conflict saw India striking 11 Pakistani airbases, marking one of the most significant air operations in recent memory. Doval’s remarks sought not only to counter foreign skepticism but also to project India’s strategic restraint and precision warfare capabilities.
Operation Sindoor, Doval concluded, was not just about retaliation—it was about setting a new standard for decisive, proportionate, and accurate national defense.
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