Why Did India Lose Fighter Jets in the May Conflict with Pakistan? A Look into Operation Sindoor and Its Fallout
🇮🇳🇵🇰 Tensions, Missiles, and Controversy: India’s Jet Losses in May Conflict with Pakistan
A month after the fierce military exchange between India and Pakistan in May 2025, the debate is still raging—both in the political corridors and the public domain. At the center of this storm is the loss of Indian fighter jets, acknowledged publicly for the first time by senior military officials, and now confirmed by Captain Shiv Kumar, a naval officer posted in Jakarta.
What went wrong, and why did India lose these jets? Let’s break it down.
🔥 What Sparked the May Conflict?
The chain of events began on April 22, when 26 tourists were killed in Pahalgam, a popular destination in India-administered Kashmir. A group called The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility. India accused TRF of being backed by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, blaming Islamabad for orchestrating the deadly attack.
In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, firing missiles at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, targeting what it claimed were terrorist infrastructure. Pakistan responded with force, allegedly downing six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales—a significant blow to India’s defense image.
💥 What Happened on May 7?
According to Pakistan, all six jets were brought down within Indian territory during their retaliatory strike. Both countries insisted that neither side’s aircraft crossed into the other’s airspace, even as missiles and drones were exchanged for days. A ceasefire was finally reached on May 10, brokered—according to U.S. President Donald Trump—by the United States, though India disputes any third-party involvement.
🛩️ Why Were Indian Jets Lost?
That’s the burning question—and the answer, according to Captain Shiv Kumar, lies in political constraints. At a June 10 seminar in Indonesia, Kumar admitted that India did lose aircraft during the operation, and this happened because the government had directed the military not to target Pakistani military bases or air defenses on May 7.
This restriction meant that Indian aircraft flew into conflict zones without neutralizing enemy defenses first, making them vulnerable.
Kumar added that once India shifted its tactics—hitting Pakistan’s military targets using BrahMos missiles—the strikes were successful and faced no resistance. He stressed that this strategic shift happened only after the May 7 losses.
🧨 Operation Sindoor: Political or Tactical?
While Indian officials have previously downplayed or dodged questions about the aircraft losses, top defence officers like General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, eventually confirmed the losses, calling it a tactical issue and saying India later rectified its approach.
Chauhan highlighted that India hit Pakistani airbases with precision after recalibrating its tactics, indicating that the initial setbacks were not due to capability, but due to strategic choices governed by political directions.
🗣️ Government and Opposition Reactions
Following the surfacing of Kumar’s remarks, the Indian government quickly went into damage control mode. The Indian embassy in Indonesia claimed the officer’s remarks were “quoted out of context”, and emphasized that the military acted under civilian leadership—taking a swipe at Pakistan’s military dominance.
But the opposition, led by the Congress Party, has seized the moment.
Congress leader Pawan Khera called the situation an “indictment” of the Modi government, accusing it of misleading the country and compromising national security.
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president, has demanded a Special Session of Parliament to discuss the air losses and review India’s defence preparedness. Other leaders like Jairam Ramesh have questioned why the Prime Minister is refusing an all-party meeting and avoiding transparency.
🤝 Ceasefire and Diplomacy
Despite the heated conflict and military losses, both countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10. India maintained that its actions were measured and non-escalatory, targeting only terror-related infrastructure and not Pakistani military assets—at least initially.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said India even sent a message to Pakistan before launching the May 7 attack, asking the Pakistani military not to interfere. According to Jaishankar, Pakistan ignored that message, prompting India’s shift in tactics in the following days.
🚨 What Does This Mean for India-Pakistan Relations?
The incident reveals the fragility of peace between two nuclear-armed neighbours. It also raises questions about India’s military strategy, political decision-making during wartime, and transparency in communication with citizens.
While the ceasefire has held so far, trust remains low, and both countries have reduced diplomatic engagement. With growing pressure on the Modi government to come clean about the events of May, this issue is far from over.
🔍 Final Thoughts
The loss of fighter jets during the May conflict with Pakistan wasn't just a tactical error—it has become a political and diplomatic flashpoint. As the opposition presses for accountability and the government defends its decisions, one thing is clear: India’s national security strategies are now under intense public and political scrutiny.
Reference from:-https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/30/political-limits-why-did-india-lose-jets-to-pakistani-fire-in-may-fight