Singapore – In a significant and unprecedented disclosure at the high-profile Shangri-La Dialogue 2025 in Singapore, India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan confirmed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) sustained losses of fighter jets during recent aerial engagements with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). This marks the first official admission of such losses by a high-ranking Indian military official, prompting varied reactions across the region.
General Chauhan, speaking on the sidelines of the security forum on May 31, acknowledged that India lost an unspecified number of aircraft in the early stages of the May 2025 conflict, which was triggered by a terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam town. While he refrained from detailing the exact number or type of jets lost, he emphasized that “numbers are not important.” Instead, he stressed the critical need to understand “why they were downed” and what tactical mistakes were made, asserting that these errors were swiftly identified and rectified.
“What was important is, why did these losses occur, and what we’ll do after that,” General Chauhan was quoted as saying in interviews with international media outlets, including Bloomberg and Reuters. He contended that the IAF “rectified tactics” and subsequently launched “large numbers” of jets to strike “airbases deep inside Pakistan, penetrated all their air defenses with impunity, carried out precision strikes” in the days following the initial setbacks.
Pakistan Hails Validation, India Faces Scrutiny
General Chauhan’s admission has been met with significant reactions, particularly in Pakistan, where it is largely seen as a vindication of Islamabad’s consistent claims regarding the downing of Indian jets. Pakistani officials and defense analysts have maintained that the PAF successfully shot down multiple Indian aircraft, including French-made Rafale jets, during the conflict.
A senior PAF official, speaking to Dawn on condition of anonymity, stated, “The pilots involved in the operation will be honoured soon. These are some of the finest aviators in our ranks — and their performance speaks for itself.” The official further added, “We fought the battle on our terms. Our kill chain was fully active. When the command shifted, while aircraft were airborne, from ‘Deter’ to ‘Assure Kill, Deny Own Loss,’ the Cobras carried out their mission with precision and control,” referring to the elite PAF squadron credited with the aerial victories. Brigadier (Retd) Mehmood Shah, former Secretary for Law and Order of the erstwhile FATA, told APP that General Chauhan’s acknowledgment “affirmed Pakistan’s earlier assertions of downing six IAF aircraft during Operation Iron Wall,” and “nullified the propaganda of Indian media.”
Conversely, in India, General Chauhan’s disclosure has ignited a storm of controversy, leading to calls for transparency and even demands for his resignation from some opposition figures and defense analysts. Prominent figures, including former Indian military officers and some members of the ruling BJP, have questioned why an official admission of losses took so long. Pravin Sawhney, a prominent defense analyst, argued that the admission that Indian jets were grounded for two days raises grave concerns and is sufficient grounds for General Chauhan’s resignation. Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress Party, have accused the Modi government of misleading the public and called for an emergency parliamentary session to investigate the defense failures.
The Context of “Operation Sindoor”
The May 2025 conflict, which India termed “Operation Sindoor,” commenced after a terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam town on April 22, resulting in the deaths of 26 tourists. India attributed the attack to Pakistan, a claim Islamabad vehemently denied. The hostilities quickly escalated, involving reciprocal air, missile, and drone strikes.
General Chauhan, during his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, also discussed the risk of nuclear escalation, asserting that both sides displayed “rationality in their thoughts as well as actions” and that there was “a lot of space for conventional operations” before the nuclear threshold. He also noted that communication channels between the two nuclear-armed neighbors remained open throughout the conflict.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual inter-governmental security conference, provides a crucial platform for defense ministers and military chiefs globally to discuss regional security challenges. General Chauhan’s unprecedented admission at such a high-profile international forum has undeniably reshaped the narrative surrounding the recent India-Pakistan aerial engagement, bringing to the forefront questions of transparency, military readiness, and strategic communication in a highly sensitive geopolitical environment.
