India launched Operation Sindoor with a clear aim and the termination of the conflict in quick time after the objective was met is a lesson for the world to learn from, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said

India launched Operation Sindoor with a clear aim and the termination of the conflict in quick time after the objective was met is a lesson for the world to learn from, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said

India launched Operation Sindoor with a clear aim and the termination of the conflict in quick time after the objective was met is a lesson for the world to learn from, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said

India downed five Pakistani fighter jets of the F-16 and JF-17 class during Operation Sindoor, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Amar Preet Singh said on Friday. This is the first time that New Delhi publicly mentioned the class of jets that Pakistan lost during the conflict.

Pakistan's losses included Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), radars, command and control centres, runways and hangars, he said. 

"As far as the air defence part is concerned, we have evidence of one long-range strike... along with that, five fighters, high-tech fighters between F-16 and JF-17 class, our system tells us," Singh told reporters at the Indian Air Force annual day press conference.  "As far as Pakistan's losses are concerned... we struck a large number of their airfields and a large number of installations. Because of these strikes, radars at four places, Command & Control centres at two places, and runways at two places were damaged. Then, three of their hangars, in three different air bases, were damaged..." he added.

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The F-16 is a U.S.-made fighter jet, while the JF-17 is of Chinese origin. Pakistan's military did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Pakistan has said it shot down six Indian fighter jets during the conflict, including the French-made Rafale. India has acknowledged some losses but denied losing six aircraft.

In response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 11.

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The IAF chief declined to respond to questions on Pakistan's claim of downing Indian jets. Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, artillery and drones during the four-day conflict, claiming dozens of people, before agreeing to a ceasefire. Islamabad denied involvement in the Kashmir attack, which killed 26 men and was the worst assault on civilians in India since the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

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India said in July that three "terrorists" involved in the attack had been killed, and there was "lot of proof" that they were Pakistanis. Pakistan's foreign ministry had questioned the credibility of India's account of the events, saying it was "replete with fabrications." Ties between the countries, which have fought two of their three wars over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, have been downgraded since the attack, with the impact being felt in areas ranging from trade and travel to sports. India has also kept in abeyance a key water-sharing treaty - a move Pakistan termed an "act of war".

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