Resolute in the Skies: Pakistan Air Force’s Commendable Defence Against Operation Sindoor

Reading Time: 3 minutes For a country with constrained economic resources, Pakistan has once again demonstrated the strategic efficacy of its defence forces—particularly its air arm. Amid mounting regional tensions and military escalations, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has earned commendation for its swift and resolute response to India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in early May 2025. Operation Sindoor, a coordinated Indian air offensive allegedly targeting “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, has been met with sharp resistance from Pakistani defences. In response, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian aircraft, including three French-made Rafale jets—widely seen as the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) advanced fleet (Al Jazeera, 2025; Anadolu Agency, 2025). Despite operating under significant fiscal constraints, Pakistan’s ability to maintain, mobilise, and execute sophisticated air defence manoeuvres demonstrates the institutional depth and operational readiness of the PAF. The downing of Rafale aircraft, if independently verified, would