Gen Anil Chauhan Admits IAF Losses in Early Sindoor Strikes
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has publicly acknowledged that the Indian Air Force suffered initial setbacks during the early stages of Operation Sindoor, the large-scale military response following the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking to Bloomberg TV and Reuters, Gen Chauhan refrained from giving exact figures but underlined that the focus should be on tactical improvements rather than numbers. “What is important is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down,” he stated, emphasizing the need to learn and adapt from initial missteps rather than dwell on them.
Tactical Course Correction Led to Strategic Gains
Following the losses, the Indian military swiftly recalibrated its approach. Gen Chauhan confirmed that after re-evaluating the situation, the Indian Air Force successfully launched precision strikes on Pakistani targets on May 8 and May 10. These were described as deep-penetration, long-range operations that signaled India’s ability to overcome initial air defense challenges. The strikes marked a strategic recovery and demonstrated operational agility, with India employing stand-off munitions and advanced targeting to neutralize terror infrastructure without escalating the conflict beyond intended limits.
Pakistan’s Claim of Downing Six Jets Denied
Responding to Pakistan’s assertion that it had shot down six Indian fighter jets, including four Rafales, Gen Chauhan categorically dismissed the claims as “absolutely incorrect.” He maintained that while there were losses, they were far fewer than what was being claimed by the Pakistani establishment. The disinformation, he suggested, was part of Pakistan’s broader narrative war aimed at masking the damage inflicted by India’s retaliatory operations.
India Maintained Conflict Below Nuclear Threshold
Gen Chauhan also addressed concerns of nuclear escalation, affirming that the conflict was carefully managed to stay well below the nuclear threshold. Both sides, according to him, acted rationally and maintained back-channel communication to prevent an uncontrollable escalation. This deliberate strategic restraint allowed India to deliver a strong conventional military response without risking broader regional instability.
