The Congress party has demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the sudden termination of Operation Sindoor on May 10, 2025, following Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh’s revelation that the Indian Air Force (IAF) achieved significant success by downing five Pakistani fighter jets and a large aircraft during the operation. The air chief’s remarks, made at the 16th Air Chief Marshal L M Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru, have intensified scrutiny over the government’s decision to halt the mission.

Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, involved precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Air Chief Marshal Singh detailed the operation’s success, stating, “We confirmed five fighter jets, including F-16s, and one large aircraft, possibly an AWACS, downed at a range of 300 kilometers—the largest recorded surface-to-air kill in IAF history.” He added that strikes targeted key sites, including a hangar at Sukkur airbase and a radar facility, disrupting terror planning operations.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, questioned the abrupt end to the operation. “Why did PM Modi stop Operation Sindoor on May 10 despite such significant achievements? Who pressured him to capitulate so soon?” Ramesh asked, highlighting the IAF’s reported success. Posts on X from Congress leaders, including MP Pranti Shinde, have labeled the operation a “media tamasha,” alleging the government concealed IAF jet losses, though these claims remain unverified.

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The operation also saw unintended consequences, with drones and missiles falling into Indian territory, raising concerns about escalation. While the BJP has hailed the operation as a strategic success, with a post on X claiming “carefully planned” strikes established a new doctrine against terror from Pakistani soil, the opposition argues PM Modi’s decision to halt it prematurely undermined its impact.

The government has not officially responded to the Congress’ queries, but the air chief’s revelations have reignited debates over national security and political decision-making, with calls for transparency growing louder.

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