New Delhi (TDI) An Indian military official has admitted that political constraints from New Delhi limited the Indian Air Force during the air battle with Pakistan, a move he says led to the loss of Indian jets.
Speaking at a seminar held in Jakarta on June 10, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar, India’s Defense Attaché to Indonesia, acknowledged that the Indian Air Force (IAF) suffered losses during its air operations against Pakistan on May 7, 2025.
The seminar, organized by Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma, focused on lessons from the India-Pakistan air battle and its implications for regional air power.
“I may not agree that we lost so many aircraft,” Kumar said during his 35-minute presentation, “but I do agree we did lose some aircraft.”
He explained that Indian fighter jets were ordered to avoid targeting Pakistani military installations and air defense systems, a directive issued by India’s civilian government to avoid escalation in a nuclear environment.
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According to media reports, the PAF brought down six Indian fighter jets, including three French-made Rafales, after India launched missile strikes on Sialkot, Bahawalpur, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan’s military reportedly responded after interpreting India’s actions as a violation of territorial sovereignty.
Captain Kumar further revealed that India changed its strategy following the setback. “After the loss, we changed our tactics and went for military installations, first achieving suppression of enemy air defenses. That’s why all our attacks went through using BrahMos missiles,” he noted.
The Indian Embassy later responded, stating that Captain Kumar’s comments had been misunderstood and emphasizing that India’s military follows civilian orders in a democracy. It added that the Operation Sindoor was meant to avoid a bigger conflict.
While India insists its actions were calculated and restrained, the comments from its military attaché reveal the risks of political hesitation in modern warfare and highlight Pakistan’s readiness to respond when deterrence fails.
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