Op Sindoor losses must be counted, too

OPERATION Sindoor was a demonstration of the Indian Air Force’s reach and precision. In a coordinated campaign, it downed five Pakistani fighter jets and a large military aircraft. The IAF also struck hangars in Jacobabad and Bholari inside Pakistan. Reports are that some US-made F-16s, which were under maintenance at a hangar, may have been damaged. In Bholari, another AEW&C aircraft, or a spy plane, is also believed to have been damaged. These were significant blows to Pakistan’s air capability — the kind that should inspire national pride. But amid these victories, there is a missing chapter in the story. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan, has earlier acknowledged that the IAF suffered aircraft losses during the operation. But no figures have been made public. Why?

Combat losses are neither shameful nor unprecedented. They are part of the harsh reality of military conflict. During the Kargil War, the nation was told about the jets and helicopters lost in action. That honesty did not dent morale; it reinforced trust. Today, by revealing only the enemy’s setbacks while staying silent about our own, the government invites speculation and suspicion. The matter has even reached Parliament, yet debates have produced more heat than light. The government’s refusal to confirm or deny specifics allows political mudslinging to fill the vacuum, undermining both public confidence and institutional credibility.

If the concern is that disclosure will embolden the enemy, history suggests otherwise: enemies already know the damage they have inflicted. This ambiguity over our own losses during the operation undermines the public’s right to know, particularly when taxpayer-funded defence assets are involved. Operation Sindoor was a hard-fought success. It’s been over two months since the operation was paused. The time has come for a clear, official statement on our losses in Operation Sindoor.

Editorials