One of the most revealing details from Operation Sindoor was the intense debate inside the Indian Air Force over whether to strike a military target located in the heart of Karachi.
Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor (R), Former Vice Chief, IAF, reveals that planners faced a “huge dilemma” because the target was inside a major city. Unlike military installations where targets could be positioned away from civilian areas, a strike in Karachi carried the risk of civilian casualties.
The decision was ultimately taken after careful consideration of civilian harm mitigation, deterrence and escalation control. The episode offers a rare insight into how India’s military leadership weighed operational objectives against the risk of escalation during Operation Sindoor.
