Operation Sindoor: India Rejects Claims of Aircraft Loss

• India launched 'Operation Sindoor' as a targeted military retaliation on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK following the deadly Pahagam Massacre that claimed 26 civilian lives.
• Reports from Indonesia alleging IAF aircraft losses during the May 7 strikes triggered political debate, though India strongly refuted the claims and clarified the context.
• IAF later adapted its strategy, using BrahMos missile strikes on May 10 after initial losses, with Indian officials reaffirming the non-escalatory and civilian-led nature of the mission.

India strongly discredited reports coming out of Indonesia alleging the Indian Air Force (IAF) lost fighter aircraft during 'Operation Sindoor'. These reports were based on observations made by India's defence attache to Indonesia, Captain Shiv Kumar, in a seminar in Jakarta. As per media reports, he informed that the IAF had lost some aircraft in strikes on May 7 against terror targets in Pakistan and PoK, blaming political leadership directives for prohibiting attacks on Pakistani military bases and air defence systems.

Captain Shiv Kumar was quoted as saying that after these losses had been suffered, the IAF changed tactics by emphasising suppression of enemy air defences, and then following that with more accurate and effective attacks using BrahMos missiles on May 10. He said the change in the way it operated was driven directly by strategic political limitations on the sort of targets that could be attacked.

The Indian Embassy in Indonesia reacted immediately on June 29, announcing that the attached comments had been 'quoted out of context' and did not reflect the emphasis and intent of the presentation.

The statement from the Embassy explained that the intent of the presentation had been to emphasize India's strong civil-military structure and the non-escalatory nature of the operation, targeting exclusively terrorist infrastructure rather than Pakistani military targets.

Political tensions in India soon increased following these reports. Opposition leaders jumped at the opportunity, accusing the government of hiding vital information from the public. The Congress party called for transparency and questioned the absence of a review by parliament or an all-party meeting, calling the initial admission of losses made by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan who admitted losses took place but rejected Pakistani claims of shooting down six planes as inadequate.

CDS Chauhan had actually confirmed early IAF losses in late May, and underscored that even in the face of initial reverses, the operation remained on track and did not cross nuclear redlines. He confirmed that after tactical modifications, the IAF effectively carried out deep, precision raids into Pakistan.

India still emphasizes that the campaign was a calculated, civilian-led reaction to terror challenges with military flexibility guaranteeing mission aims were accomplished without escalation. The government maintains that any implication of mismanagement or disinformation is a misrepresentation of official motivation and conduct.