India Says Navy Officer’s Remarks on IAF Losses ‘Taken Out of Context’

The Indian Embassy in Indonesia has clarified that comments made by its Defence Attaché regarding Indian Air Force losses during Operation Sindoor have been taken out of context and misrepresented by the media.

"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 embassy stated.

The clarification came after India's Defence Attaché to Indonesia, Captain Shiv Kumar of the Indian Navy, informed that the Indian Air Force lost "some aircrafts" not many during its military operation deep inside Pakistan's soil. He also said that these losses were due to constraint given by the political leadership.

“Only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishment or their air defences,” Captain Kumar said, explaining why the IAF suffered fighter jet losses.

He further stated that after incurring initial losses, the Indian armed forces revised their approach. “We targeted military installations—first ensuring the suppression of enemy air defences. Once that was accomplished, our subsequent strikes, including those using BrahMos missiles, proceeded without resistance,” he added.

The statement from the embassy clarified that the presentation was pointing out how the Indian Armed Forces serve under civilian political leadership, unlike some other countries in the neighbourhood. "It was also explained that the objective of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorist infrastructure and the Indian response was non-escalatory," it reiterated.

On May 7, India had launched Operation Sindoor targeting to dismantle the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan. The tri-service attack was a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The conflict between India and Pakistan lasted for four days, during which Islamabad retaliated with missiles and drones targeting military bases and residential areas near the border. A ceasefire was announced on May 10, however, both sides still debate on number of casualties.

During their conflict, Pakistan claimed to have downed at least five Indian military jets, including at least three Rafale fighters, which India termed "incorrect." On the other hand, Pakistan also never supplied any hard evidence for such claims.