Indian official says political ‘constraints' led to jet losses
Firefighters give water cannon salute to a Rafale jet during its induction ceremony into the Indian Air Force at the Ambala Air Force Station in Ambala. PHOTO: AFP
NEW DELHI – India's political leadership didn't permit strikes on Pakistani military bases at the start of hostilities between the two countries in May, allowing Islamabad to shoot down its fighter jets, according to a military official.
'I do agree we did lose some aircraft. That happened only because of the constraints given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishment or their air defence,' India's military attachė to Indonesia, Shiv Kumar, said at a seminar on the India-Pakistan conflict at the Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma in Jakarta on June 10.
The worst clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours in half a century erupted May 7, with both sides trading air, drone and missile strikes, as well as artillery and small-arms fire along their shared border.
It was triggered by an attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 civilians in what India called an act of terrorism orchestrated by Pakistan. Islamabad has denied involvement.
Mr Kumar's comments are the most direct explanation so far from an Indian official on why the country lost fighter jets during the conflict with Pakistan.
The assertion from a military official that a political directive at the start of the conflict could be responsible for the downing of the planes may embolden India's opposition, which is scrutinising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the hostilities.
India's Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs didn't respond to emails seeking comments sent after office hours.
India's embassy in Indonesia said in a post on X that Mr Kumar's comments at the seminar were 'quoted out of context' and that he had wanted to convey that the 'Indian Armed Forces serve under civilian political leadership.'
In an interview in May, chief of defence staff of armed forces, Anil Chauhan, had accepted India lost an unspecified number of fighter aircraft but blamed the downing of the jets to tactical mistakes which were rectified.
New Delhi changed its policy after the initial losses, 'destroying' Pakistan air defence which allowed India to hit subsequently several military installations, including key airbases, Mr Kumar said. India claimed to have hit 11 Pakistan airbases alongside the destruction of air defence installations.
Mr Kumar said Islamabad capitulated after Indian strikes disabled several of its key military installations, leading New Delhi to conclude that 'Pakistan will never use their nuclear weapon against India.' BLOOMBERG
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