India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, has officially acknowledged that the Indian Air Force (IAF) lost fighter jets during the May 7 conflict with Pakistan, marking the first such admission by an Indian official. In an interview with Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, General Chauhan declined to specify the number of aircraft lost but emphasized the importance of understanding the reasons behind the losses.
“What is important is that–not the jet being down, but why they were being down,” General Chauhan stated. He dismissed Pakistan’s claim of downing six Indian warplanes as “absolutely incorrect.” Following the initial setbacks, India revised its tactics and conducted precision strikes deep into Pakistani territory between May 7 and 10, targeting air bases and penetrating air defenses.
The conflict, dubbed Operation Sindoor, was triggered by an April 22 terrorist attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-backed terrorists, leading to airstrikes on May 7. A ceasefire was declared on May 10 after intense fighting.
General Chauhan’s acknowledgment has sparked political reactions, with opposition parties urging the government to provide transparency regarding military engagements and casualties. Despite the losses, Indian military officials assert that the revised strategies effectively countered Pakistani defenses and achieved operational objectives.
