For the first time, the Indian Armed Forces have acknowledged losing fighter jets in a recent conflict with Pakistan, although the exact number of downed aircraft remains undisclosed.
Speaking to Bloomberg at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, confirmed that Indian warplanes were shot down during the skirmish but rejected Pakistan’s claim of downing six jets—calling it “absolutely incorrect.”
While Pakistan, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had earlier asserted that six Indian jets were destroyed (including four Rafale fighters), Chauhan did not specify how many were lost, instead focusing on the reasons behind the losses.
“The key is not how many jets were downed, but why they were downed,” Chauhan explained. “Identifying tactical errors is more important than numbers. What matters is learning from mistakes, correcting them, and returning to effective operations.”
He further noted that India quickly resumed air operations after adjusting tactics and strategies.
In the same interview, General Chauhan also dismissed former US President Donald Trump’s claim that US intervention helped prevent a nuclear war during the India-Pakistan tensions. He called the idea “far-fetched”, stating that neither country was close to deploying nuclear weapons.
