India and Pakistans post-war dynamics remain unchanged one year later

Pakistan and India each held ceremonies to commemorate their respective military operations against each other last year, with both countries claiming strategic successes.

In Pakistan, a ceremony was held at the Nur Khan Auditorium in Rawalpindi on Thursday, where the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) marked its achievements in downing Indian jets. A government-organised concert was also held in Lahore’s Liberty Chowk on Friday evening to celebrate what Pakistan calls the “Day of the Battle of Truth”.

Across the border, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed his profile picture on X to the official logo of Operation Sindoor, a military operation against Pakistan that took place last year. Modi wrote on X: “A year ago, our armed forces displayed unparalleled courage, precision and resolve.”

India’s Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti stated at a news conference in New Delhi that India had destroyed 13 Pakistani aircraft and struck 11 airfields. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the country had defeated an enemy “five times larger than itself” and had shown only “10 percent” of its military potential.

Analysts note that despite public claims of victory, key questions remain about whether both countries have drawn lessons from their respective gains and weaknesses during the conflict. The four-day aerial war between India and Pakistan did not end in a clear victory for either nation, with each side pointing to different events as evidence of success.

The conflict began on May 7, 2025, when India launched Operation Sindoor against multiple sites deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos. The aerial exchange on the night of May 6-7 saw Pakistani jets shoot down Indian aircraft, including Rafales.

Both countries have since emerged as significant diplomatic forces, with Pakistan accepting US President Donald Trump’s assertion that he had brought about the ceasefire that ended the war on May 10. India has pointed to its military outcomes, such as striking multiple Pakistani airbases and using Israeli-made drones.

Source: Al Jazeera