Pakistan used ‘spies’, sleeper cells to locate S-400 during Operation Sindoor, was ‘desperate’: Air Marshal | India News - Hindustan Times

**Pakistan allegedly deployed “spies” and sleeper cells in a bid to locate India’s S‑400 systems, an Indian Air Marshal says** *New Delhi, Aug 27 2026* – In a series of statements reported by the *Hindustan Times*, *NDTV* and other Indian outlets, a senior Indian Air Force officer, identified as Air Marshal (Retd.) S. K. Singh, alleged that Pakistan’s intelligence services dispatched covert operatives and sleeper cells into Indian territory during the recently concluded “Operation Sindoor”. The operation, according to the marshal, was a coordinated effort by the Indian Army and Air Force to test the resilience of India’s newly deployed S‑400 Triumf air‑defence systems – a Russian‑made, long‑range missile‑defence network that has been operational near the Line of Control (LoC) since early 2023. The marshal described Pakistan’s espionage drive as “desperate”, claiming that the foreign agents attempted to map the exact locations of the radars and launch sites to facilitate a potential pre‑emptive strike.

Operation Sindoor, conducted in June‑July 2026, involved simulated infiltration scenarios, live‑fire drills and electronic‑reconnaissance exercises across the Jammu‑Kashmir and Punjab fronts. Indian officials said the exercise successfully identified several hostile intelligence attempts, including the insertion of “non‑uniformed” individuals believed to be linked to Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Intelligence (ISI). According to the marshal, these operatives used civilian cover, local contacts and underground networks to gather geospatial data, but were intercepted by Indian counter‑intelligence units and forward‑area security forces. The Indian Ministry of Defence, while not commenting on the specifics, released a statement that “India remains vigilant against any covert activities that threaten its sovereign defence assets”.

Pakistan’s military has dismissed the allegations as “fabricated propaganda” and warned that such accusations could “further inflame tensions” between the two nuclear‑armed neighbours. A spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, Lt. Gen. Azhar Khan, said that Pakistan does not conduct any espionage operations targeting Indian defence installations and that the claim “lacks any credible evidence”. Diplomatic channels in New Delhi have reportedly been briefed, and the Ministry of External Affairs has called for “responsible journalism” while reiterating India’s right to safeguard its critical infrastructure. Analysts note that the public airing of espionage claims may be aimed at signaling deterrence, but also risk complicating already fragile Indo‑Pakistani security dialogues.