PAF Downs Indian Jets, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu’s Command ‘Kill Them

ISLAMABAD – In a dramatic turn of events during escalating regional tensions, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully repelled an attempted large-scale Indian air incursion in the early hours of May 7. The operation was personally overseen by Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, who led from PAF’s top-secret command center, demonstrating what officials are calling a “textbook case of air defense excellence.”

Speaking directly to pilots of the elite No. 15 Squadron via radio during the heat of battle, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu commanded, “Kill them, kill them, don’t let them enter even an inch into Pakistan.” The squadron, once led by Sidhu himself, launched into combat as part of Pakistan’s swift response to Indian aggression following the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

According to PAF sources, nearly 80 Indian aircraft, including Rafales, Su-30s armed with BrahMos missiles, and MiG variants, were scrambled from 12 airbases near Pakistan’s eastern border. In anticipation, the PAF had already deployed approximately 40 fighter jets, including J-10s, thanks to actionable intelligence gathered in coordination with Pakistan’s military and intelligence services.

Multiple attempted intrusions by Indian aircraft were thwarted. However, when missile strikes targeted civilian areas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Sheikhupura, Pakistan initiated “Offensive Counter Air Operations.” Five Indian aircraft were reportedly downed during the engagement — three Rafale jets, one Su-30, and one MiG-29.

As confirmation of enemy aircraft losses came in, chants of “Allahu Akbar” echoed within the command center, underscoring the emotional and symbolic weight of the moment.

In a strategic follow-up to the air battle, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos (“Wall of Steel”) on May 9–10. The operation, guided by a doctrine of “de-escalation through escalation,” targeted 26 Indian military installations, including 15 airfields, in a calibrated response to the Indian strikes on PAF bases earlier that week.

Air Chief Marshal Sidhu personally monitored every mission, from takeoff to weapon delivery and return. The operation also featured integrated cyber, electronic, and space warfare components to disrupt Indian defense systems and communications.

Read more: PAF Downs 5 Indian Jets; DG ISPR Reveals Evidence in Joint Briefing

Despite the scale of Pakistan’s retaliation, the leadership deliberately avoided civilian targets, aiming to contain escalation. Diplomatic sources have since confirmed that both nations agreed to a ceasefire shortly after the conclusion of the operation.

India has yet to publicly acknowledge the reported losses or the damage inflicted by Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. However, global actors have ramped up efforts to encourage restraint and dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

This rare insight into PAF’s real-time air combat operations showcases Pakistan’s advanced military coordination and the rising strategic value of Chinese-made fighter jets, such as the J-10, in modern aerial warfare — signaling a shift in global aerospace dynamics.