Rahul Gandhi Questions Aircraft Losses in Operation Sindoor, MEA responds
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has renewed his criticism of the government’s handling of Operation Sindoor, specifically targeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar over alleged Indian aircraft losses and the timing of communication with Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated and factually incorrect.
Rahul Gandhi’s Public Challenge to Jaishankar
On May 19, 2025, Rahul Gandhi escalated his attack through a sharp post on social media platform X, asking:
“EAM Jaishankar’s silence isn’t just telling — it’s damning. So I’ll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew? This wasn’t a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth.”
This marked his second such comment in three days. Earlier, on May 17, Gandhi had accused the government of pre-warning Pakistan about the strikes, calling it a breach of national security and questioning who approved the communication.
MEA Clarifies Timing of Pakistan Communication
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a rebuttal to Gandhi’s claims, asserting that the government had not warned Pakistan before launching the operation. The MEA said communication occurred only after the commencement of Operation Sindoor and was strictly aimed at de-escalation.
“External Affairs Minister had stated that we had warned Pakistan at the start, which is clearly the early phase after Op Sindoor’s commencement. This is being falsely represented as being before the commencement. This utter misrepresentation of facts is being called out.”
The ministry emphasized that the communication informed Pakistan that India’s strikes were targeting terror camps and not military infrastructure, asking Pakistan to avoid engagement to prevent further escalation.
Political Reactions Intensify the Debate
The BJP hit back strongly. Party IT cell chief Amit Malviya accused Gandhi of undermining national interests.
“Rahul Gandhi’s daftness is not merely incidental — it is sinister. He is speaking the language of Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera defended Gandhi’s position, accusing the government of compromising operational secrecy and alleging backchannel communication that may have jeopardized Indian assets.
“Sindoor ka sauda hota raha, PM Modi chup rahe,” Khera said, implying that national security was being negotiated behind closed doors while the Prime Minister remained silent.
Aircraft Losses: Still Unconfirmed
One of the central questions raised by Rahul Gandhi — how many Indian aircraft were lost in the operation — remains unanswered. The Indian government has not confirmed any losses. However, Pakistani military officials have claimed to have downed five Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, one MiG-29, and one Su-30MKI.
These claims have not been independently verified, and the Indian Air Force has not issued any official statement addressing the matter.
