“Navy Officer’s Remarks on Operation Sindoor Taken Out of Context: Indian Embassy”

Navy Officer’s Remarks on Operation Sindoor Taken Out of Context: A row has broken out over the comments made by the Indian defence attaché in Indonesia that the Indian Air Force lost fighter jets in the initial phase of Operation Sindoor, as it was not allowed to attack the Pakistani military and only target terrorist infrastructure.

In a statement issued on X, the embassy noted that Navy Captain Shiv Kumar's remarks on Operation Sindoor were "taken out of context" and "misrepresented."

"We have seen media reports regarding a presentation made by the Defence Attache at a Seminar. His remarks have been quoted out of context, and the media reports are a misrepresentation of the intention and thrust of the presentation made by the speaker," said the embassy.

"The presentation conveyed that the Indian Armed Forces serve under civilian political leadership, unlike some other countries in our neighbourhood. It was also explained that the objective of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorist infrastructure and the Indian response was non-escalatory," the statement added further.

During a presentation on June 10, India’s defence attaché to Indonesia, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar said that the Indian Air Force lost “some aircraft” after it struck terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.

Also Read: Abhishek Bachchan Reveals Why He Doesn’t Clarify Rumours About His Family: ‘People Will Turn It Around’

Captain Kumar also said that the Indian forces were told not to hit Pakistani infrastructure or air defences in the first strike.

“Only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishment or their air defences,” he said, while explaining the reason why the IAF suffered lost fighter jets.

The Captain further added that after this loss, the armed forces changed 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 said.

After the comments went public, the Congress party accused the BJP government of “misleading” the nation.

“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?" said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Senior leader Pawan Khera also took to X and stated the defence attache's remarks were a "direct indictment."

Also Read: Zelensky Seeks U.S. Help After Russia’s Biggest Aerial Strike on Ukraine: ‘Ready to Buy American Defence Systems

"They know they’ve compromised national security, and they’re terrified of what the Congress Party will expose before the people of India," said Khera.

A month ago, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan said in Singapore that India changed tactics and hit deep inside Pakistani territory after losing aircraft in the recent military clashes with Pakistan.

He did not specify the number of platforms lost.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in areas under Pakistani control in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding to stop military actions on May 10.

After the strikes on terror infrastructure, India told Pakistan that it doesn’t want to escalate, and the strikes were on terrorist bases.

But as Pakistan retaliated, India responded very strongly.

Also Read: ‘Honeymoon’ Remark on Rape Sparks Misogyny Row, Deepens Trinamool Rift in Kolkata