Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has categorically denied Pakistan’s claim of downing six Indian fighter jets, including Rafales, during Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in an interview with Bloomberg TV, General Chauhan said such statements are completely false and misleading.
When asked about the claim made by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the alleged downing of six Indian jets, the CDS responded firmly, saying, “Absolutely false.” He emphasized that the real focus should not be on whether Indian jets were downed, but rather on why the jets took off in the first place — a reference to India’s strategic air strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan.
General Chauhan stated that India had learned from its strategic errors, corrected them, and within two days successfully executed another long-range strike, with all jets returning safely. “The important thing is what we did after that,” he said, indirectly referencing India’s powerful response targeting Pakistani airbases.
Earlier, on May 11, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, acknowledged during a press conference that while losses are a part of warfare, all Indian pilots returned home safely. He confirmed that the Indian Air Force responded with full force during Operation Sindoor and delivered a strong blow to the enemy.
