For the first time since last month’s brief but intense conflict with Pakistan, India has officially acknowledged the loss of at least one military aircraft. The confirmation came from India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, during an interview at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
The four-day conflict, which erupted in early May and ended with a cease-fire on May 10, was the worst military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since the 1999 Kargil War. Over 70 people were killed as both sides exchanged missile, drone, and artillery fire.
Pakistan claimed to have downed six Indian fighter jets using its Chinese-supplied aircraft. India dismissed the claim as “absolutely incorrect,” but until now had not confirmed any aircraft losses. When pressed during the interview, Gen. Chauhan admitted to losing jets, though he did not specify how many or under what circumstances.
“What’s important isn’t just that a jet was downed, but why it was downed,” Chauhan said, emphasizing that the incident led to tactical improvements. “We remedied our mistake, and within two days, resumed operations with improved targeting.”
Earlier, Indian Air Marshal A.K. Bharti had stated that all Indian pilots were safely back and that “losses are a part of combat,” without confirming any jet losses. A senior security source had also told AFP that three Indian jets had crashed on Indian soil, without elaborating on causes.
The conflict was triggered by a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-backed militants. Pakistan denied the allegations.
This rare acknowledgment from India highlights the evolving nature of military transparency in the subcontinent and adds another layer to the volatile security dynamics between the two rivals.
