Taaza Wire | Defence Desk | May 31, 2025
In an open and tactical confession, Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Gen Chauhan has admitted that India did incur aerial losses in its recent military encounter against Pakistan Last month. In an interview with Bloomberg TV on his current visit to Singapore the General gave infrequent insight into the sequence of events behind the scenes during Operation Sindoor– India’s massive retaliatory counter- offensive after the Pahalgam terror attack.
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“Yes, We Lost Aircraft – But We Adapted & Hit Back”
When asked about the claims that India lost jets during the four-day military exchange, CDS Gen Chauhan responded:
“What’s important is not that the jets were downed, but why they were downed.”
He stressed that India quickly analyzed the “tactical mistakes,” rectified them, and them,and then successfully launched precise, long-range strikes deep into Pakistani territory using advanced weapons like the BrahMos missile.
Pakistan’s Claim of Downing 6 Indian Jets Is “Absolutely Incorrect”
Pakistan had earlier claimed that it had shot down six Indian fighter jets during the conflict. Gen Chauhan unequivocally denied this:
“That is absolutely incorrect,” he said.
Backing the CDS, IAF’s Air Marshal AK Bharti also stated earlier that “all Indian pilots returned home safely.”
What Triggered Operation Sindoor?
The war broke out following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, 25 of them tourists. India retaliated with Operation Sindoor from May 7 against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistani-occupied land.
According to official reports:
- The Indian Air Force used long-range precision weaponry
- The offensive reached deep inside enemy territory
- India’s May 10 counter-strikes reportedly hit key Pakistani military installations
Political and Strategic Fallout
CDS Gen Chauhan’s confession has drawn political responses in the homeland. Congress leaders like Jairam Ramesh are calling for openness about the losses and a Kargil Review Committee-type report.
“Will the Modi Government now form a similar inquiry?” asked Ramesh on X.
While that was happening, defense experts such as Shashank Joshi (The Economist) opined that the losses to the aircraft could have been caused by shortages of “appropriate armament” in the initial stages of the war — an Achilles heel India was swift to correct.
India’s Message: We Will Strike Harder
In spite of the early failure, CDS Gen Chauhan was keen to stress India’s resilience and the success of its second=string operations. The military’s ability to reboot and retaliate with precision conveys a strong message: India won’t be goaded into weakness– it will retaliate in crushing strength.
Conclusion
With this unprecedented recognition by the country’s highest military official, the murk surrounding India’s recent border conflict is finally lifting. The bigger lesson? There will be losses, but resilience, correction, and revenge are now the foundations of India’s national security policy.
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