At the NDTV Defence Summit, IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari revealed that Pakistan employed civilian aircraft as shields during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 to provoke India into mistakenly targeting them, aiming for international condemnation. He emphasized that India’s advanced air defense systems, like the S-400, successfully prevented such a scenario while executing deep strikes against terrorist facilities, resulting in significant PAF losses. This strategy reflects Pakistan’s hybrid warfare tactics, manipulating airspace to create diplomatic leverage, akin to the MH17 incident. India’s layered defense and precise targeting showcased its operational effectiveness amidst escalating threats, supporting India’s strategic doctrine of proportional response.