India’s Defence Attaché in Indonesia Captain Shiv Kumar has admitted that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had downed India’s fighter jets during the military confrontation on May 7, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
Addressing a seminar titled, ‘Analysis of the Pakistan-India Air Battle and Indonesia’s Anticipatory Strategies from the Perspective of Air Power', organised by Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma on June 10 , the defence attaché, however, stopped short of giving the number of the Indian Air Force (IAF) planes downed by the PAF pilots.
The attaché disclosed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) lost “some aircraft” during Operation Sindoor, the May 7 strikes targeting terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
He opined that these losses occurred because the political leadership had instructed the armed forces not to target Pakistan’s military infrastructure or air defences in the initial strike.
“Only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishment or their air defences,” Captain Kumar said.
He further stated that following these losses, the Indian armed forces adjusted their tactics. “We went for the military installations... we first achieved suppression of enemy air defences and then... all our attacks could easily go through using BrahMos missiles,” he added.
The attaché’s candid remarks invited criticism from the opposition Congress party, which accused the BJP-led government of misleading the nation. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned, “Why is the PM refusing to preside over an all-party meeting and take the Opposition into confidence? Why has the demand for a special session of Parliament been rejected?”
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera also took to X, calling the attaché’s comments a “direct indictment.” He asserted, “They know they’ve compromised national security, and they’re terrified of what the Congress Party will expose before the people of India.”