Kumar’s Seminal Admission
Indian Navy Captain Shiv Kumar, India’s defence attaché to Indonesia, acknowledged at a June 10 seminar in Jakarta that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three advanced French Rafales during Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. He attributed the losses to "strict political orders from the Modi government not to target Pakistani military installations or air defence systems." Kumar stated this self-imposed restraint allowed PAF to exploit tactical vulnerabilities, as Pakistan "refused to impose any such limitations".
Tactical Impact of India’s Restraint
According to Kumar, India’s avoidance of high-threat PAF assets, intended to prevent nuclear escalation forced IAF pilots to execute missions while bypassing critical defences. This enabled PAF to intercept Indian jets with minimal resistance.
Islamabad consistently denied involvement in the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that triggered the crisis, calling India’s allegations baseless. The PAF confirmed the downing of six IAF aircraft, validating its defensive capabilities amid India’s aggression. The strikes occurred after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty, expelled Pakistani diplomats, and halted trade, measures which Pakistan termed "acts of war".
Kumar’s remarks ignited political turmoil in India. The Congress party accused Modi’s government of "misleading the nation" and compromising security, and India’s Embassy in Jakarta claimed Kumar’s comments were "quoted out of context," stressing Operation Sindoor targeted "terrorist infrastructure" not military assets, while in actuality hitting civilian areas. Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan previously dismissed PAF’s claim of six kills as "absolutely incorrect" despite evidence but admitted tactical reassessments followed losses.
The conflict exposed India’s strategic miscalculations under nuclear deterrence dynamics. While India touted strikes on so called "terror hubs," independent analysts noted that Pakistan’s swift retaliation demonstrated robust air defence readiness, Pakistan’s capability to defend sovereignty despite India’s technological edge and that regional stability remains fragile, with U.S. diplomacy crucial in brokering the May 10 ceasefire.