Two wins, two losses: What India, Pakistan have learned a year after war

"In Pakistan, May began with streets in major cities dotted with banners and posters honouring the military leadership that, in the official telling, guided the country's defences and led the nation to victory in the four-day aerial war with India last year. At the Nur Khan Auditorium in the city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) held a ceremony marking its achievements in downing Indian jets. In Lahore on Friday evening, a government-organised concert at the city's Liberty Chowk celebrated the conflict's success in what Pakistan calls the Day of the Battle of Truth."

"On Thursday, May 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed his profile picture on X to the official logo of Operation Sindoor, India's name for the May 2025 military operation against Pakistan, and urged every Indian to do the same. A year ago, our armed forces displayed unparalleled courage, precision and resolve, Modi wrote on X. Today, we remain as steadfast as ever in our resolve to defeat terrorism and destroy its enabling ecosystem."

"At a news conference lasting more than two hours in New Delhi, Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti said India had destroyed 13 Pakistani aircraft and struck 11 airfields. Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media arm of Pakistan's armed forces, told reporters that the country had defeated an enemy five times larger than itself and had shown only 10 percent of its military potential. We are prepared, he said. If anyone wants to test us, they are welcome to do so."

Pakistan marked the four-day aerial conflict with ceremonies and public events honoring military leadership and celebrating downed Indian jets. In Rawalpindi, the Pakistan Air Force held an achievements ceremony, and in Lahore a government-organised concert celebrated the conflict as the Day of the Battle of Truth. India also celebrated, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi changing his X profile picture to the official logo of Operation Sindoor and urging Indians to do the same. Indian officials claimed destruction of 13 Pakistani aircraft and strikes on 11 airfields. Pakistan’s ISPR director general said Pakistan defeated a larger enemy and showed only 10 percent of its military potential, while analysts pointed to vulnerabilities behind the claims.

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