Speaking directly to pilots of the elite 15 Squadron—an air unit he once commanded—Air Chief Marshal Sidhu’s voice rang out over secure radio frequencies: “Kill them, kill them, don’t let them enter even an inch into Pakistan.”
Islamabad – In a high-stakes aerial confrontation between two nuclear-armed neighbors, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully repelled a major Indian air incursion on the night of May 6–7, marking a turning point in escalating regional tensions. The operation was led personally by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, from PAF’s most secure command center.
The powerful directive came as Indian fighter jets, including Rafales and Su-30s armed with BrahMos missiles, launched from over a dozen air bases near the Pakistani border. In total, Indian forces deployed nearly 80 aircraft. PAF, already on high alert following the April 22 Pahalgam terror incident blamed on Pakistan by India, responded by scrambling approximately 40 J-10 and other frontline fighters.
Inside PAF’s secretive command center, the atmosphere was electric as live footage showed Indian Rafale jets being hit over Bithanda. The room erupted with chants of “Allahu Akbar”, reflecting the gravity and emotion of the moment.
According to senior PAF officials and operational logs, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu had anticipated Indian escalation and remained at the helm with little rest for four consecutive days. Credible intelligence triggered a shift from surveillance to a full-scale defensive posture, culminating in the launch of “Offensive Counter Air Operations” once Indian projectiles entered Pakistani airspace.
The aerial battle saw the downing of five Indian aircraft—three Rafales, one MiG-29, and one Su-30—according to PAF sources. The engagements were conducted with precise coordination among Pakistan’s military, intelligence, and air defense systems.
In the days that followed, from May 9 to 10, Pakistan transitioned to a broader strategic operation under the codename “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”, meaning “Wall of Steel” in Arabic. Designed as a doctrine of “de-escalation through escalation,” the operation aimed to deliver a calculated yet decisive blow to Indian offensive capabilities while avoiding civilian targets.
Over six hours, PAF conducted retaliatory strikes on 26 military installations, including 15 airfields, with every mission monitored in real-time by Air Chief Marshal Sidhu. The offensive was notable not just for its scale but also for its sophistication—integrating cyber warfare, space-based assets, and electronic jamming to neutralize Indian communications and targeting systems.
Sources confirm that the Pakistani response was authorized by national leadership at a time of its choosing, reflecting a strategy focused on precision and proportionality. Civilian casualties were avoided entirely, reinforcing Pakistan’s commitment to international humanitarian norms amid rising conflict.
Read More: Pakistan Conducts Operation “Bunyan-um-Marsoos”
India has yet to publicly acknowledge the reported aircraft losses or the damage inflicted during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. However, global powers have since issued urgent calls for restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
This rare glimpse into Pakistan’s air command operations reveals not only the strategic depth of the PAF but also the rising combat credibility of Chinese-made fighter jets like the J-10. In doing so, PAF has not only reinforced Pakistan’s deterrence posture but also challenged the prevailing dominance of Western airpower paradigms.
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