The Indian military is under immense domestic pressure for refusing to publicly acknowledge the high number of casualties suffered during Operation Sindoor, sources revealed.
According to sources, more than 250 Indian soldiers were killed along the Line of Control (LoC) during the operation.
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Despite these heavy losses, Indian authorities have persistently attempted to downplay the extent of the damage.
In what appears to be an effort to silently honour the fallen while avoiding public scrutiny, India has reportedly decided to confer awards on over 100 of the deceased soldiers.
The list of awardees includes three Rafale pilots and four pilots in total. Additionally, seven personnel from the Indian Air Force and five fallen soldiers from the 10 Infantry Brigade's G-Top post have been named for recognition.
At the Headquarters of the 93 Infantry Brigade, nine more fallen soldiers will reportedly receive military honors.
Sources also confirmed that five operators of the advanced S-400 defense system, killed at the Adampur Airbase, are among those being awarded posthumously.
Multiple Indian generals and diplomatic sources have been compelled to acknowledge the losses, including the destruction of key bases and damage to the Rafale fighter jets, despite earlier denials.
There are also reports of pressure on the families of the deceased soldiers not to share photographs or personal stories of their loved ones on social media, as the Indian government continues to control the narrative surrounding the operation.
Despite repeated confirmations from independent Indian and international media, the Modi administration has consistently denied losses at sensitive sites such as the Pathankot and Udhampur bases, sources added.
The awarding of honors to the fallen, while publicly avoiding discussion of the losses, paints a picture of India struggling to manage both the military setback and the information fallout from Operation Sindoor.
