India Defence Chief Confirms Jets Lost in Pakistan Conflict

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan

India’s defence chief, General Anil Chauhan, appeared to confirm that India lost at least one aircraft during the recent conflict with Pakistan in an interview.

The two countries were engaged in a four-day clash earlier this month, their worst confrontation since 1999, ending with a ceasefire on 10 May. More than 70 people died from missile, drone, and artillery strikes on both sides.

Pakistan claimed its Chinese-made jets had shot down six Indian aircraft. However, General Chauhan dismissed these claims as "absolutely incorrect."

Pressed on whether India lost any jets, Chauhan acknowledged that some aircraft were downed but did not provide specific details.

“I think, what is important is not the jet being down, but why they were being down,” he said during a defence meeting in Singapore.

Earlier, India’s Air Marshal AK Bharti stated all Indian pilots had returned safely and acknowledged that losses are part of combat.

A senior security official said that three Indian jets crashed on Indian soil, though no details on the type or cause were given. Until Chauhan’s recent remarks, India had not officially confirmed any aircraft losses.

Chauhan emphasised that understanding and correcting tactical mistakes was crucial: “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.”

The recent conflict was triggered by a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on 22 April, the deadliest civilian attack in the region in decades. India accused Pakistan of supporting the Islamist militants behind the attack, charges Islamabad denies.