Jets were lost, but tactical errors fixed quickly in strike on Pakistan: General Chauhan

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has admitted that Indian fighter jets were indeed lost during Operation Sindoor, marking the first public acknowledgment of such losses in the recent conflict with Pakistan. However, he emphasized that the armed forces swiftly analyzed and corrected their tactical mistakes, launching another strike just two days later.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, General Chauhan dismissed Pakistan’s claim of downing six Indian jets, including four Rafales, as "absolutely incorrect". He said the focus should not be on the number of jets downed but on understanding and fixing the errors that led to it.

He noted that after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack which killed 25 Indian tourists, the Indian military destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan. In retaliation, Pakistan launched drone attacks targeting Indian assets. India responded by striking 11 key Pakistani airbases using long-range BrahMos missiles, bypassing Chinese air defence systems.

The general also clarified that the situation never approached the nuclear threshold, countering foreign claims of near-escalation. He reiterated that communication channels with Pakistan remained open throughout, and India’s ability to conduct precision strikes despite heavy defences proves the inefficacy of Chinese-supplied weapons used by Pakistan.