Operation Sindoor: Indian Navy Officer's ‘Jet Loss' Comment Ignites Storm, Govt Rushes to Clarify
TOI.in
/ Jun 30, 2025, 11:28AM IST
A new controversy has erupted over India's top-secret Operation Sindoor, after Navy Captain and Defence Attaché to Indonesia Shiv Kumar publicly stated that the Indian Air Force lost 'some aircraft' during the cross-border anti-terror strikes in Pakistan and PoK. Speaking at a defence seminar on June 10, he revealed that initial IAF losses occurred due to political constraints, as forces were told not to strike Pakistani military infrastructure or air defences in the first wave. He added that tactics were changed later to suppress enemy air defences using BrahMos missiles. The Indian Embassy in Indonesia has since issued a clarification, calling the remarks 'misrepresented' and 'taken out of context'. This has reignited debate over whether India lost Rafale or other jets in the operation—a claim long denied by officials.#OperationSindoor #IAFLosses #ShivKumar #IndianAirForce #IndiaPakistan #RafaleJet #pakistan #pakistanairforce #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
23 minutes ago
- First Post
India 'a very strategic ally': US on how Trump sees China's influence in Indo-Pacific
The White House has praised India's role in the Indo-Pacific as 'a very strategic ally', highlighting the close ties between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. read more President Donald Trump shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House. File image/AP White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday praised India as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region and spoke about the strong relationship between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Answering a question about China's influence in the region, Leavitt said, 'India remains a very strategic ally in the Asia Pacific, and the President has a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi, and he will continue to have that.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Her remarks came as India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is visiting the US to attend the QUAD Foreign Ministers' Meeting. On Monday, Jaishankar also opened an exhibition at the United Nations titled The Human Cost of Terrorism, aimed at raising global awareness about state-sponsored terrorism. The QUAD is a partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the US, focused on promoting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. It began as a joint humanitarian effort after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Earlier, on June 18, it was announced that President Trump has accepted Prime Minister Modi's invitation to attend the upcoming QUAD Summit in New Delhi later this year. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri shared details of their phone call, which took place on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. 'For the next meeting of QUAD, PM Modi invited President Trump to India. While accepting the invitation, President Trump said that he is excited to come to India,' Mr Misri said in a video message. The White House spokesperson's remarks on India's importance in the Indo-Pacific came shortly after she addressed another ANI question about a possible trade deal between India and the US. Addressing the media, Leavitt said, 'Yes, the President said that last week (that the US and India are very close to a trade deal), and it remains true. I just spoke to our Secretary of Commerce about it. He was in the Oval Office with the President. They are finalising these agreements, and you'll hear from the President and his trade team very soon when it comes to India.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘President Trump-PM Modi ties strong, US-India trade deal announcement soon': White House
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described India as a 'strategic ally' in the Indo-Pacific region during a press briefing on Monday (US local time) while addressing a question on the India-US trade agreement, she added that President Donald Trump shares a "very good relationship" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and noted that the trade deal is close to completion. US President Donald Trump (R) and PM Narendra Modi during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington DC. (File)(Bloomberg) 'Yes, the President said that last week (that the US and India are very close to a trade deal), and it remains true. I just spoke to our Secretary of Commerce about it. He was in the Oval Office with the President. They are finalising these agreements, and you'll hear from the President and his trade team very soon when it comes to India,' ANI news agency quoted her as saying. Responding to a question regarding China's role in the Indo-Pacific, Leavitt reiterated, 'India remains a very strategic ally in the Asia Pacific and the President has a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi, and he will continue to have that.' Her remarks come as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is currently visiting the United States to participate in the QUAD Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The QUAD, consisting of Australia, India, Japan, and the US, is focused on promoting a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific. The alliance began as a coordinated humanitarian response following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Meanwhile, it was earlier confirmed on June 18 that US President Donald Trump accepted PM Modi's invitation to attend the upcoming QUAD Summit in New Delhi. "For the next meeting of QUAD, PM Modi invited President Trump to India. While accepting the invitation, President Trump said that he is excited to come to India," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a video message. India-US trade talks On June 26, India and the US began another round of bilateral trade talks aimed at finalising an early harvest deal before the US imposes country-specific reciprocal tariffs on imports from 57 countries, including India, starting July 9, according to people familiar with the discussions. Led by chief negotiator and special secretary for commerce Rajesh Agrawal, the Indian delegation arrived in Washington for a two-day round of talks beginning last week. The main goal of this round is to address existing trade disputes and reach an interim agreement that could form the basis for the first phase of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by September or October 2025. After this initial phase, both sides are expected to begin negotiations for a full-fledged free trade agreement (FTA) with the aim of doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. India is pushing for the US to roll back all current and planned retaliatory tariffs, including a 26% reciprocal tariff – comprising a 10% duty that took effect on April 5 and an additional 16% set to begin from July 9. Sources involved in the talks said most of the elements of a preliminary agreement have been ironed out by negotiators, but final decisions now rest with the political leadership to resolve a few remaining differences. Two major sticking points continue to hold up the deal, they added. India is also urging the US to eliminate safeguard duties – currently being challenged at the World Trade Organisation – such as the 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium and the 25% duties on automobiles and auto parts. In return, India expects Washington to lower its most favoured nation (MFN) tariffs proportionately.
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Relationships will never be free of issues': Jaishankar on India-US ties
Washington: India and America will have to keep growing their relationship despite disagreements and frictions, said external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday, during his ongoing visit to America. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar,(Dr. S. Jaishankar-X) 'Relationships will never be free of issues and even differences. What matters is the ability to deal with it and keep trends moving in a positive direction,' said Jaishankar in New York at an event hosted by Newsweek, an American news magazine. 'I remember when I was Ambassador, I literally came in a few days after we had a problem related to one of our diplomats in New York City. And then, I had to deal with (Section) 301 issues, compulsory licensing controversies and with plans to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan. We dealt with it,' said India's top diplomat while pointing out that India had seen tensions with US administrations in the past as well. Despite this, Jaishankar argued, India and the United States are brought together by fundamental convergences on economic and strategic issues. India and the United States have disagreed publicly on the exact role played by Washington in mediating a ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad after military clashes in early May. US President Donald Trump - who announced the ceasefire before the Indian and Pakistani governments - claimed credit for brokering an end to hostilities. The Trump administration has also attempted to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and claimed that trade-related inducements were offered to help ease tensions. India has publicly contested these claims by Washington. According to foreign secretary Vikram Misri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made India's position clear during a phone conversation with President Trump after the G7 summit earlier in June. "Prime Minister Modi stated that the ceasefire was agreed to only at the request of Pakistan and that India does not want mediation. He made it clear that at no point during this episode were India-US trade talks or third-party mediation discussed," Misri said in a statement. "The halt to military action was discussed directly between the two countries through existing military channels," he added. A scheduled meeting between Trump and Modi on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Canada was reportedly cancelled after the former left the summit early. The Indian PM subsequently declined Trump's invitation to stop over in America on the way back from Canada. The Trump administration's overtures to Pakistan have also been in focus after Trump hosted Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir for a lunch at the White House. Top US military and diplomatic officials have outlined plans for a closer economic and defence relationship with Pakistan, including cooperation on security, counter-terrorism, investment and critical minerals. New Delhi has refrained from commenting publicly on these overtures to Pakistan but has noted these developments with some concern, according to persons aware of the matter. Despite these concerns, Jaishankar outlined plans for a closer partnership with America, including through a trade deal with Washington. The two countries are engaged in active negotiations with the deal expected to be finalised soon, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. 'Obviously, my hope would be that we can get to a successful conclusion to the trade deal,' said Jaishankar while stating that there would have to be 'give and take' on both sides to secure the agreement. Jaishankar will also meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday. The latter is hosting the Quad Foreign Minister's Meeting, which will also feature Japan's Takeshi Iwaya and Australia's Penny Wong. 'There are a lot of issues we need to discuss in the Indo-Pacific. These are issues of maritime safety and security, connectivity, technology, pandemic preparedness and even of education,' said Jaishankar about the Quad's agenda.
