[Text/Observer Network Shao Yun] According to a Bloomberg report on May 31, Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan "first confirmed" in an interview at the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue that India had indeed lost fighter jets in recent conflicts with Pakistan.

According to the video released by Bloomberg, when asked whether he could confirm that Pakistan had shot down Indian aircraft earlier this month, Chauhan said, "The important thing is not whether the aircraft were shot down, but why they were shot down."

Bloomberg then followed up, asking if India had at least lost one aircraft to Pakistan. In response, Chauhan said, "The good news is that we are able to realize our tactical mistakes and correct them." He added, "Just two days later, we sent all our aircraft out again for a long-range strike."

Chauhan also claimed that Pakistan's military statement about shooting down six Indian aircraft was "completely inaccurate." However, he did not reveal how many aircraft India had actually lost. "Why they crashed and where the errors occurred are important," Chauhan said. "The number is not significant."

The report pointed out that this is the most direct comment made so far by Indian government or military officials regarding the situation of Indian fighter jets in this round of Indo-Pakistani conflict.

Chauhan being interviewed at the Shangri-La Dialogue sidelines, Bloomberg screenshot

Bloomberg interpreted Chauhan's remarks as "Indian military first confirmed" losing fighter jets in the conflict with Pakistan. Previously, Air Operations Director of the Indian Air Force, Bhatti, said in response to questions about losses of Indian Air Force aircraft, "Losses are part of combat," and refused to comment on the "details" of how many fighters were lost.

Reportedly, Chauhan also frankly stated in the interview that U.S. President Trump's claim that the U.S. had "helped avoid a nuclear war" was somewhat "far-fetched" (far-fetched).

"Personally, I believe there is a large gap between conventional operations and crossing the nuclear threshold," Chauhan said. According to him, even during the conflict, communication channels between India and Pakistan remained "open." He indicated that for several potential stages of conflict escalation, both sides still had many "subsequent steps" available at that time to address and resolve their issues without resorting to nuclear weapons.

On May 7, the Indian Air Force launched Operation Sindoor, a raid targeting nine locations in Pakistan and the Pakistani-administered Kashmir region. The same day, Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations Bureau stated that in response, Pakistan had shot down six Indian aircraft, including three French-made Mirage 2000 fighters, one Sukhoi Su-30 fighter, one MiG-29 fighter, and one Heron drone.

This marked India's first attack on Pakistan since 2019 and is considered the most serious clash between the two countries in over two decades. Regarding reports that the Mirage 2000 fighter jets may have been shot down, a spokesperson for the French Ministry of Defense Joint Staff recently responded that the situation remains shrouded in mystery. France is collecting more information, but if confirmed, it would be the first time that a Mirage 2000 fighter jet has been damaged in combat in its 20 years of service.

The cause of this round of Indo-Pakistani conflict stems from a gunfight that occurred in the Indian-controlled Kashmir region on April 22, which resulted in at least 26 deaths and 46 injuries. India accused Pakistan, stating that Pakistan has long "supported cross-border terrorism activities." In response, Pakistan repeatedly denied these accusations.

On May 10, India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire agreement. However, before the announcement by both countries, Trump had already posted this message on social media, claiming that the ceasefire was reached under "U.S. mediation," which sparked strong criticism in India. Some analysts believed that in India's view, Trump's move was equivalent to treating the two countries equally, which was seen as a great diplomatic victory for Pakistan and a blow to Modi's administration.

It is reported that both India and Pakistan have sent delegations to various countries worldwide to "lobby," attempting to influence international perceptions of this conflict. Since May 21, India has sent seven cross-party delegations, totaling over 50 people, to more than 30 countries and the EU and UN headquarters for lobbying. Pakistan has also sent a "Peace Initiative" delegation led by former Foreign Minister and People's Party Chairman Bilawal, expected to arrive in New York on June 1st.

On May 30, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh publicly stated that India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan has been temporarily suspended but is not yet concluded. According to a Reuters report, he made this statement aboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Goa, saying, "If Pakistan takes any 'evil' or 'immoral' actions, it will face the firepower and anger of the Indian Navy."

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