Our Bureau
New Delhi
Pakistan activated spies and sleeper cells inside India to locate the country’s S-400 air-defence systems during Operation Sindoor, retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra has revealed, highlighting the importance Islamabad placed on countering India’s air-defence capabilities during the 2025 military operation.
According to Mishra, Pakistan was particularly concerned about the S-400 systems, which he described as a major challenge to its aerial operations. He said Pakistani efforts to determine their locations involved multiple intelligence-gathering methods, including the activation of networks inside India.
Mishra’s comments were made while discussing the air operations during Operation Sindoor, launched by India in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack. The operation involved Indian military strikes against targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and was followed by several days of heightened military confrontation between the two countries.
The retired Air Marshal said Pakistan also sought external intelligence support to identify the locations of India’s air-defence assets.
The S-400 systems emerged as a significant element of India’s air-defence posture during the confrontation. Mishra said Pakistan’s attempts to locate them reflected the perceived threat they posed to its aerial operations.
The revelation also underscores the wider intelligence dimension of modern military conflicts, where locating and tracking strategic defence assets can become as important as conventional battlefield operations.