Mon Jun 30 12:27:56 UTC 2025: **Indian Naval Officer’s Claims of Government Restraint in Pakistan Conflict Spark Political Firestorm**
**Jakarta, Indonesia** – Comments made by Indian Navy Captain Shiv Kumar, suggesting the government placed constraints on the military during a conflict with Pakistan in May, have ignited a political controversy in India.
Speaking at a seminar in Indonesia on June 10, Captain Kumar, defense attache at the Indian embassy in Jakarta, conceded that India lost fighter jets to Pakistani fire during Operation Sindoor. He attributed these losses to “constraints” imposed by the political leadership in New Delhi, preventing the military from targeting Pakistani military installations and air defenses initially.
The comments, initially overlooked, gained traction after a report by *The Wire*, an Indian publication, triggering a swift reaction from the opposition Indian National Congress party, which labelled them an “indictment” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7 in retaliation for the killing of tourists in Pahalgam. India targeted nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, claiming to strike “terrorist infrastructure.” Pakistan responded by claiming to have downed six Indian jets, including Rafale fighters, a claim that India initially did not confirm or deny.
Following the initial exchange, the two countries engaged in tit-for-tat missile strikes and drone attacks until a ceasefire was brokered by then-US President Donald Trump on May 10, a claim New Delhi rejects, insisting on bilateral resolutions.
Captain Kumar stated that after the initial losses, the Indian military changed tactics, targeting Pakistani military installations, using Brahmos missiles after achieving “suppression of enemy air defences.”
Following Pakistan’s claim of downing six jets, Indian officials had previously hinted at losses. General Anil Chauhan, India’s chief of defence staff, admitted at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum that Indian jets were downed but did not specify the number.
The Indian embassy in Indonesia has since issued a statement claiming Kumar’s remarks were taken “out of context,” asserting he was emphasizing the Indian response was deliberately non-escalatory and that the Indian Armed Forces serve under civilian leadership.
The opposition Congress party has seized upon Kumar’s remarks, accusing the Modi government of misleading the nation about the extent of the losses and demanding a special session of Parliament to address the issue. They argue that the government’s actions have compromised national security.
First Piper 