EP-444 | How India Blinded, Numbed & Paralysed Pakistan’s Air Force | Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra

Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra is a former fighter pilot who served in the Indian Air Force for more than 39 years. In January 2025, he took charge of the Western Air Command, one of the IAF’s most important operational commands. Just months later, he led the command during Operation Sindoor.In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Air Marshal Mishra explains how India blinded Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and achieved air superiority, gaining the ability to strike anywhere inside Pakistan.He also speaks about the operational freedom given to the Indian Air Force and the role of women pilots in striking terror hubs in Pakistan. The conversation also covers drones, indigenous weapons and whether India is ready for Operation Sindoor 2.0.00:00 – Introduction01:36 – IAF’s Planning for Op Sindoor06:16 – IAF’s Precision Strikes11:37 – Op Sindoor’s Target Selection17:21 – Women Pilots in Op Sindoor21:25 – Mental Makeup of IAF Pilots28:09 – Decision-Making Behind Op Sindoor32:44 – Psyche of Pakistan’s Military39:00 – IAF’s 314-km S-400 Strike45:42 – Blinding Pakistan’s Air Defences54:30 – PM Modi’s Adampur Visit58:27 – IAF’s Core Team for Op Sindoor1:03:48 – BrahMos1:08:06 – Drone Warfare1:18:37 – Operation Safed Sagar1:29:58 – Pakistan’s Attempts to Find S-4001:29:58 – Narrative Warfare1:42:26 – Track 2 Diplomacy