"Admitting an error in strategy...," Defence Chief replies to queries about lost aircraft in Op Sindoor, denounces nuclear escalation.
India Denies Loss of Jets in Operation Sindoor, Emphasizes Tactical Errors
In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg TV at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, India's Chief of Defence Staff, Anil Chauhan, addressed rumors of Indian jet losses during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.
Although Chauhan categorically rejected Pakistan's claims of downing Indian jets as "absolutely incorrect," he acknowledged the importance of understanding the reasons behind the operation and any tactical mistakes made. "What is important is not the jets being down, but why they were being down, what mistakes were made - that are important," Chauhan said.
Chauhan highlighted that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had corrected its errors and had resumed operations, targeting adversaries from a safe distance. "The good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range," he stated.
Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, previously reiterated claims that Pakistan Air Force had shot down six Indian fighter jets, including four Rafale fighters, during the brief India-Pak clash. However, the Indian Army has denied these claims, as well as those made by western media and Pakistan. Air Marshall AK Bharti previously acknowledged that "losses are a part of combat" while emphasizing that all IAF pilots returned home safely. In turn, the IAF claimed to have shot down several PAF jets, including an F-16 and two JF-17s, during the operation—a claim that Pakistan has not confirmed.
Chauhan declined to comment on President Donald Trump's claim that the U.S. stopped India and Pakistan from entering a nuclear war. He urged that the assumption of either side being close to using nuclear weapons was far-fetched. Chauhan emphasized that there is ample room between conventional operations and the nuclear threshold, and that open lines of communication with Pakistan were maintained throughout to manage the situation. He also recognized the possibility of employing sub-ladders to resolve issues without resorting to nuclear weapons.
Chauhan further underscored India's precision strikes on heavily air-defended Pakistani airfields, which were situated up to 300 kilometers within Pakistani territory. He also suggested that India's response will depend on Pakistan's future actions.
Operation Sindoor, a military operation initiated by India in response to a terrorist attack, involved targeted strikes on numerous sites across Pakistan. The operation illustrated a strategy evolving toward direct engagement with targets within Pakistan while avoiding full-scale war. The judgment of using measured responses to terrorist attacks and avoiding full-scale conflicts, while demonstrating military prowess, is expected to shape India's future military responses.
- The discussion of Operation Sindoor's tactical errors extends beyond the Indian Air Force, as it is also a matter of concern in the broader realm of global finance, politics, general news, and war-and-conflicts.
- In the context of regional politics, Pakistan's claims of downed Indian jets during Operation Sindoor have generated controversy in the market dynamics of the defense sector, fueling speculations and debates about the current state of India-Pakistan relations.
