India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has confirmed that the country lost an unspecified number of fighter jets during a four-day conflict with Pakistan in May. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Chauhan emphasized that understanding the reasons behind the losses is more important than the number of jets lost. He dismissed Pakistan’s claim of shooting down six Indian warplanes as “absolutely incorrect” ¹.

Details of the Conflict

The conflict between India and Pakistan was triggered by a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 civilians. India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror bases in Pakistan, and both sides traded air, drone, and missile strikes. Chauhan said that the Indian military identified tactical errors, corrected them swiftly, and resumed operations with long-range precision strikes within two days. He also downplayed Pakistan’s claims about the effectiveness of weaponry deployed from China and other countries, saying they “didn’t work” ² ¹.

Aftermath and Reactions

The Congress party has seized on General Chauhan’s remarks, demanding answers from the government about the loss of jets and the circumstances of the ceasefire. Telangana minister Uttam Kumar Reddy claimed that General Chauhan confirmed Rafale aircraft were shot down, and the government should stop denying it. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi questioned the external affairs minister about the number of Indian aircraft lost during the operation, sparking a controversy over transparency and accountability ³.