India’s First Ever Confirmation On Reports Of Jets Lost During Latest Escalation With Pakistan (Photo on X@HQ_IDS_India)
India’s military has officially acknowledged, for the first time, the loss of an unspecified number of fighter jets during the intense four-day conflict with Pakistan in May 2025. The admission came from General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, in an interview with Bloomberg TV at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
While refuting Pakistan’s claim of downing six Indian warplanes as “absolutely incorrect,” General Chauhan declined to disclose the exact number of losses, emphasising that the focus should be on the reasons behind the incidents rather than the numbers.
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“The critical aspect is understanding why the jets were downed and what tactical errors were made,” General Chauhan stated. He highlighted that the Indian Air Force swiftly rectified these mistakes, resuming operations within two days to conduct long-range strikes. This marks the most direct statement from an Indian official regarding the fate of its aircraft during the clashes, which erupted on 7 May following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April that killed 26 civilians.
India attributed the attack to Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denied. The conflict, the most severe between the nuclear-armed neighbours in decades, involved air, drone, and missile strikes, alongside artillery exchanges along the border. General Chauhan dismissed speculation about the conflict nearing nuclear escalation, calling such scenarios “far-fetched.” He noted that communication channels with Pakistan remained open, allowing both sides to manage the situation without crossing the nuclear threshold. “There are multiple sub-ladders for de-escalation that can be explored,” he added.
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Addressing Pakistan’s claims of using advanced weaponry supplied by China, General Chauhan asserted that these systems “didn’t work.” A recent report from India’s Defence Ministry research group revealed that China provided Pakistan with air defence and satellite support during the conflict. Despite this, General Chauhan claimed India executed precision strikes on heavily defended Pakistani airfields, achieving accuracy within a metre from 300 kilometres away.
Both nations have engaged in diplomatic efforts to shape global perceptions of the conflict. General Chauhan stressed that the current ceasefire holds but warned that its continuity depends on Pakistan’s future actions. “We have established clear red lines,” he said, underscoring India’s firm stance. As tensions linger, the international community continues to monitor the fragile peace between the two rivals.
