• India's military confirms losses during May conflict with Pakistan.
• General Anil Chauhan stresses the importance of understanding the reasons behind the losses.
• Pakistan claims to have downed six Indian jets, which India disputes as incorrect.
• General Chauhan highlights improvements in tactical operations post-conflict.
• No immediate nuclear threat was reported during the confrontation.

India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has confirmed that Indian fighter jets were lost during recent military operations against Pakistan, marking the first official acknowledgment of such losses amid a four-day conflict that unfolded in May. The conflict was triggered by an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, primarily tourists, which India attributed to Pakistan-backed militants, a claim Islamabad rejects. As hostilities escalated, Indian jets executed targeted strikes on what India labelled “terror infrastructure,” leading to significant military exchanges and claims from both sides regarding aircraft losses, according to Dawn, SCMP, and AA.

In a series of interviews at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, General Chauhan emphasized that while the number of downed jets is less significant than understanding the reasons behind their losses, Pakistani claims of having shot down six Indian jets have been described by him as “absolutely incorrect.” Instead, he stressed the need for tactical analysis and the corrections made by the Indian Air Force after initial losses were incurred on May 7, when Indian operations reportedly faced challenges, according to Reuters, TRT World, and Al Jazeera.

Reports from the conflict indicate that both Indian and Pakistani forces engaged extensively, with reports of missiles, airstrikes, and drones being deployed. During this conflict, General Chauhan noted that India adapted its tactics quickly, performing long-range precision strikes on May 8 and resuming operations until a ceasefire was called on May 10. He affirmed the capability to penetrate Pakistani air defenses successfully despite initial setbacks, which underscores a significant capability in India's military tactics, as referenced by Dawn, Al Jazeera, and SCMP.

General Chauhan also addressed the potential for nuclear conflict, asserting that the situation never approached that threshold. Both he and his Pakistani counterpart indicated that rationality prevailed in military decisions, dismissing earlier claims made by US President Donald Trump about a nuclear crisis. On the tactical front, General Chauhan explained that while the conflict caused concern regarding nuclear sites, the strikes were conducted with precision, avoiding direct attacks on such sensitive installations, as indicated by TRT World, Dawn, and Reuters.