India again admits jet losses in Pakistan clash, citing political limits
Listen to article
An Indian defence official has admitted that the country's air force did "lose some aircraft" on the night of May 7 when they launched an unprovoked attack on civilian sites in Pakistan during the recent 86-hour war between the two nuclear powers.
Captain Shiv Kumar, an Indian defence attache, made the statement while speaking at a seminar, 'Analysis of the Pakistan–India Air Battle and Indonesia's Anticipatory Strategies from the Perspective of Air Power' organised by Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma in Indonesia, reported Indian media.
'IAF Lost Fighter Jets to Pak Because of Political Leadership's Constraints': Indian Defence Attachehttps://t.co/ADjPZWN35x
— The Wire (@thewire_in) June 29, 2025
Kumar blamed the losses suffered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the constraints imposed by the political leadership in New Delhi. He claimed that the Indian aircraft were under orders not to attack Pakistan military assets, to avoid an escalation.
Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan confirmed the loss fighter jets during the May clashes with Pakistan, marking the first official acknowledgment of air losses in the ongoing conflict. He disclosed the information in an interview with Bloomberg Television, during the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
However, he denied Pakistan's tally of six Indian jets being shot down, choosing not to specify the exact number of aircraft lost. "What is important is not the jet being down, but why they were being down," Chauhan said. "Numbers are not important."
On May 30, Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy admitted that Pakistan downed five Indian fighter jets, including Rafale aircraft. However, the military circles of India are always tight-lipped about the numbers of fighter jets loss by PAF.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down at least six Indian fighter jets, including three French-built Rafales, which the Narendra Modi-led government bought to give the IAF a perceived qualitative edge over the PAF.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, India exchange lists of prisoners under consular access agreement
Pakistan and India on Tuesday exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other's custody, in line with the provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access signed between the two countries in 2008. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the exchange was carried out simultaneously through diplomatic channels in Islamabad and New Delhi. The agreement mandates both sides to share such lists on January 1 and July 1 every year. Pakistan handed over a list of 246 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian prisoners, comprising 53 civilian detainees and 193 fishermen, to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Meanwhile, the Indian government provided a list of 463 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including 382 civilian detainees and 81 fishermen, to an official from Pakistan's High Commission in New Delhi. India attempting to use water as weapon against Pakistan: Dar The Foreign Office said Pakistan has called for the immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been verified. Islamabad has also requested special consular access to believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, particularly those who are physically or mentally challenged, to expedite confirmation of their national status. Pakistan has further urged India to grant consular access to all Pakistani prisoners where such access is still pending. The Indian authorities have also been asked to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of all Pakistani nationals in their custody. 'The Government of Pakistan remains committed to addressing all humanitarian matters, especially those concerning prisoners, on a priority basis,' the Foreign Office stated, reaffirming its resolve to secure the early return of all Pakistani prisoners languishing in Indian jails.
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Opposition slams Modi government for concealing details of IAF
India's opposition parties have launched a sharp tirade against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, accusing it of concealing information about the Indian military's losses during the May 7 air confrontation with Pakistan and compromising national security under foreign pressure. Opposition leaders have referred to recent media reports quoting Defence Attaché Captain Shiv Kumar to state that his remarks confirm their long-standing concerns. Rahul Gandhi was absolutely right to call Modi 'Surrender Narender' and Jaishankar 'JJ.' Captain Shiv Kumar's statement corroborates what the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, had raised long ago. He had rightly questioned who authorized informing Pakistan, as it is… — Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) June 30, 2025 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated that PM Modi's political decisions weakened India's defence posture and accused him of accepting a ceasefire under pressure from former US President Donald Trump. Read more: India again admits jet losses in Pakistan clash, citing political limits 'Captain Shiv Kumar's statement corroborates what Rahul Gandhi has said all along. It is clear that aircraft were lost due to the political leadership's directive not to engage Pakistani military assets,' said a Congress spokesperson. The party also called Modi 'Surrender Narender' and criticised External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as 'JJ', accusing the government of prioritising optics over operational effectiveness. As shocking as this revelation is, Rahul Gandhi ji was once again right. There is a reason Trump keeps bringing up the ceasefire thing. Modi's diplomacy handicapped not only our defence but also our country — Armaan (@Mehboobp1) June 30, 2025 The remarks in question were made by Captain Shiv Kumar at a seminar titled 'Analysis of the Pakistan–India Air Battle and Indonesia's Anticipatory Strategies from the Perspective of Air Power', held at Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma in Jakarta. According to Indian media, Kumar acknowledged that the Indian Air Force (IAF) "lost some aircraft" and attributed the losses to operational restrictions imposed by political leaders in New Delhi. 'IAF Lost Fighter Jets to Pak Because of Political Leadership's Constraints': Indian Defence Attachehttps:// — The Wire (@thewire_in) June 29, 2025 In response, the Indian Embassy in Indonesia issued a formal statement rejecting the media's interpretation of Kumar's comments. 'His remarks have been quoted out of context, and the reports are a misrepresentation of the intention and thrust of the presentation,' the statement said. We have seen media reports regarding a presentation made by the Defence Attache at a Seminar. His remarks have been quoted out of context and the media reports are a mis-representation of the intention and thrust of the presentation made by the speaker. The presentation… — India in Indonesia (@IndianEmbJkt) June 29, 2025 The embassy clarified that Kumar's presentation emphasised civilian control over the Indian armed forces and reiterated that Operation Sindoor was a limited, non-escalatory mission targeting terrorist infrastructure, not Pakistani military installations. The conflicting narratives have further fuelled political tensions in India, with the opposition demanding transparency on the actual scale of losses and decisions made during the 86-hour conflict. Pakistan-India Ceasefire Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated on April 22, when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. Pakistan categorically rejected Indian accusations. India then undertook a series of hostile actions the next day on April 23, suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing and ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Both the countries subsequently reduced diplomatic staff at their respective embassies in the other's territory. Tensions further escalated in the early hours of May 7, when Indian missile strikes hit six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. Read More: French intelligence official confirms downing of Rafale by Pakistan In a swift military response, Pakistan's armed forces shot down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. The confrontation intensified again in the early hours of May 10, when India targeted several Pakistani airbases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, airbases and other strategic targets. On May 10, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached following intense diplomatic efforts overnight. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian foreign secretary.
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Republican Congressman tells Zohran Mamdani to ‘go back to third world' for eating with bare hands
A video from 2023 showing New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani eating rice with his hands during an interview resurfaced online over the weekend. In the clip, he explains how his upbringing in Uganda and South Africa shaped his empathy and understanding of the Palestinian struggle. Republican Representative Brandon Gill reacted sharply on X, stating that 'civilised people in America don't eat like this' and urging Mamdani to 'go back to the third world' if he 'refuses to adopt Western customs.' Civilized people in America don't eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World. — Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) June 30, 2025 Eating with hands is a long-standing tradition in many South Asian and African cultures, practiced by millions worldwide. Mamdani, born in Kampala to Indian parents, moved to New York at seven and became a US citizen in 2018. A democratic socialist, he is aiming to become the city's first mayor of Indian heritage if elected in November. During his campaign, Mamdani has called for dismantling ICE, labelling it a 'fascist' organisation. This stance has drawn criticism from Republicans, including former ICE director Tom Homan, who said 'good luck with that' and warned of stricter federal enforcement in sanctuary cities. Additional GOP figures have escalated the response. Representative Andy Ogles labelled Mamdani an 'antisemitic, socialist, communist' and suggested denaturalisation. Nancy Mace posted a poll on deportation, while former President Trump referred to Mamdani as a '100% Communist Lunatic,' also mocking his appearance and intellect. Immigration hardliner Stephen Miller warned that Mamdani's primary win signals a dangerous shift if immigration is unchecked.
