India’s military confirms loss of fighter jets in clashes with Pakistan

In a significant acknowledgment, India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, has confirmed that the Indian military lost an “unspecified number” of fighter jets during recent clashes with Pakistan in May. The admission came during an interview with Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

This marks the first time an Indian official has officially conceded to aircraft losses in the conflict, which had been a subject of intense speculation and conflicting reports. General Chauhan, however, refuted Pakistan’s claim of downing six Indian jets as “absolutely incorrect.”

“What is important is not the jet being downed, but why they were downed,” General Chauhan stated, emphasizing the military’s focus on understanding and rectifying tactical mistakes. He added that the Indian Air Force quickly learned from the incidents and resumed operations, conducting long-range targeting within two days.

The Chief of Defense Staff’s statement follows earlier remarks by a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Subramanian Swamy, who had already accepted the downing of five Indian jets, including Rafale aircraft, during the same period. Swamy’s comments had drawn attention for their candor and raised questions about the performance of India’s recently acquired French-made Rafale jets.

The May clashes, which saw heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, were triggered by an attack in Pahalgam, Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), on April 22, which killed 26 tourists. India blamed Pakistan for the incident, a claim Islamabad denied. The conflict escalated with missile strikes and aerial engagements from both sides.