New Delhi/Singapore (National Times): In a candid admission, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has confirmed that India lost fighter jets during a recent skirmish with Pakistan on May 7, but emphasized that the real question isn’t how the jets were lost, rather, why they were lost, and what steps India has taken since.
Speaking to Bloomberg during a defense summit in Singapore, General Chauhan said, “Yes, we did lose jets in the fight with Pakistan. But the bigger question is not how they were lost, it is why. We studied our mistakes, corrected them, and took immediate remedial actions.”
He revealed that just two days after the incident, India launched a counter-offensive, targeting 11 air bases inside Pakistan, showcasing the Indian military’s capacity for swift retaliation and strategic adaptability.
‘India Far Ahead of Pakistan in All Fields’
General Chauhan also touched upon the broader geopolitical and developmental comparison between India and Pakistan. He noted that while Pakistan was ahead of India at the time of independence in 1947 on various metrics, including social and economic indicators, the tables have since turned.
“Today, India is ahead of Pakistan in all areas, be it military strength, economic growth, global influence, or social development,” he asserted.
The CDS’s remarks come amid rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following a sharp escalation along the Line of Control and multiple airspace violations earlier this month.
India’s bold response to the recent provocation and Chauhan’s remarks signal a clear strategic shift, from reactive to proactive, as the country positions itself as a dominant regional power.
