War not about losses, but making enemy kneel: Union Minister on Operation Sindoor
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that the focus should not be on the number of losses but on the outcome of the operation.
Last UpdatedMay 31, 2025 23:55 IST 
Published byWritten ByShipra ParasharUnion Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday responded to the recent remarks made by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan regarding Indian Air Force (IAF) losses during Operation Sindoor, a military operation against Pakistan earlier this month.
Speaking to India Today in Jaipur, Shekhawat stated that the focus should not be on the number of losses but on the outcome of the operation.
"I think that war is not a matter of counting one's losses. War is judged by the way, under what circumstances, the other side bowed down and made a compromise with you. We forced Pakistan to make a compromise, ceasefire and show favour in four days by making it kneel without any conditions. I think this topic is more important," Shekhawat said.
The statement comes hours after India's top military officer admitted that India lost fighter jets during the initial phase of Operation Sindoor on May 7. Speaking to Bloomberg during the Shangri-La Dialogue, he emphasised that while some jets were downed, the key takeaway was the military’s ability to swiftly identify and correct tactical errors.
"What is important is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down... Why they were down, what mistakes were made - that are important. Numbers are not important," General Chauhan said.
He also dismissed Pakistani Prime Minister’s claims that six Indian jets, including four Rafales, were downed as "absolutely incorrect."
Chauhan also stressed that the operation did not escalate into a nuclear conflict and that communication channels between India and Pakistan remained open throughout the hostilities to manage tensions.
In a separate statement to Reuters, General Chauhan reaffirmed that the early-stage losses prompted immediate strategic adjustments. “We analysed what went wrong, rectified our approach, and went back stronger,” he said.
Previously, the armed forces had deflected questions about Indian jets being shot down by Pakistan. In an earlier interview, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, echoed a similar sentiment in a press conference, said, “Losses are a part of any combat scenario. All our pilots are back, and we achieved our operational objectives decisively.”
