On May 7, 2025, the Indian Air Force launched air strikes on nine terrorist strongholds in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir as part of "Operation Sindhu," but at a heavy cost—several fighter jets were shot down, including the expensive French-made Rafale fighter jets. According to a report by The Times of India, Captain Shiv Kumar, the Indian military attaché in Indonesia, disclosed during a seminar that the Indian Air Force was restricted by "political orders" from the Modi government, which limited its operational freedom and led to aircraft losses. However, the Indian government quickly came out to clarify that Kumar's remarks had been "taken out of context." This battle over the truth of the "Rafale loss" has exposed the growing tensions between the Modi government and the military, becoming a political and military "blame game."
Kumar openly stated at the seminar that the Indian Air Force was strictly instructed by the Modi government not to attack Pakistan's military facilities or air defense systems during the operation, a "political directive" aimed at preventing conflict escalation in a nuclear environment. It sounds high-minded, but what was the result? Indian aircraft could only fly around Pakistan's air defense network, like dancing with shackles on. According to a report by Frontline, the Pakistan Air Force had no such restrictions and seized the opportunity to shoot down six Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, and two S-400 launchers. This turned the Indian Air Force's operation into a performance of "self-inflicted harm."
Kumar's disclosure undoubtedly poured cold water on the Modi government. After all, the Rafale fighter jets are the "treasures" purchased by India at a cost of billions of dollars from France, each worth about $250 million. Losing three of them is not just a financial issue, but also a matter of face. The Modi government has always presented itself as a "strong anti-terrorism" force, yet it was exposed by one of its own officers, revealing how political decisions have hindered military operations. The government quickly clarified, claiming that Kumar's statements had been "misunderstood," trying to shift the blame to the media for "taking things out of context." However, this cover-up behind the scenes clearly indicates that the government does not want the public to know the truth about the Rafale losses, fearing it could shake public confidence.
The Indian military clearly has some grievances against the government's "political directives." Chief of Army Staff Anil Jaihan admitted at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31 that the Indian Air Force did indeed lose aircraft during the operation on May 7, but rejected Pakistan's claim of shooting down six aircraft, calling it "completely wrong." He also revealed that India subsequently adjusted its tactics, accurately striking airbases in Pakistan, regaining some dignity. However, Jaihan deliberately avoided specific loss numbers, and Air Force Operations Director Batie only vaguely said that "losses during combat are normal," emphasizing that "all pilots returned safely." This ambiguous statement is clearly intended to save the government's face.
However, Kumar's public disclosure broke this "mutual understanding." As an overseas military attaché, his words not only revealed the inner workings of the operation but directly pointed to the decision-making mistakes of the Modi government. This left senior military officials embarrassed: on one hand, they needed to uphold the government's authority; on the other hand, the dissatisfaction of junior officers with political interference had already built up. Kumar's comments were quickly "quashed" by the government, but this very fact shows that the discontent within the military towards the Modi government is fermenting. After all, the Rafale fighters, which the air force spent blood and treasure to buy, were shot down, who wouldn't feel hurt? More importantly, this happened during the high-profile "Sindhu Operation," dealing a blow to the morale and professional image of the military.
Why is the Modi government so eager to conceal the details of the Rafale losses? The reason is simple: the political cost is too high. 2025 is a crucial year for the Modi government, and India is facing economic pressure and fierce attacks from the opposition Congress Party. The Congress Party seized on Kumar's disclosure, strongly criticized the government for "harming national security" in the "Sindhu Operation," attempting to attribute the aircraft losses entirely to Modi. To stabilize the situation, the government not only denied Pakistan's shooting-down data but also through the Indian embassy in China condemned the related reports as "false information."
More intriguingly, the government seems to be intentionally downplaying the overall losses of the "Sindhu Operation," adopting a strategy of "reporting good news and not bad news," clearly aiming to maintain Modi's "strongman" image while avoiding being overshadowed by Pakistan's propaganda on the international stage.
Behind this farce lies the difficult balance India faces between military modernization and political reality. The loss of the Rafale fighter jets is not just a hardware loss but also a rift in trust between the government and the military. If the Modi government wants to continue presenting itself as "strong," it probably needs to have the capability first. Otherwise, the next "Sindhu Operation" may once again send Rafale pilots to their deaths.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7525742733412041279/
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