Opposition slams Modi administration for secrecy; Indian Embassy refutes claims surrounding defence attaché’s remarks
India’s opposition parties have intensified criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, accusing it of hiding the extent of military losses suffered during the May 7 air conflict with Pakistan and compromising national security due to foreign pressure.
The backlash follows media reports quoting Defence Attaché Captain Shiv Kumar, whose comments at a Jakarta seminar were interpreted as confirming political interference in military decisions. Opposition leaders seized on the remarks to validate longstanding claims of government mishandling.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated that PM Modi’s political calculations weakened India’s military response and claimed a ceasefire was accepted under pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Captain Shiv Kumar’s words align with what Rahul Gandhi has consistently said. Aircraft were lost because political leadership instructed the military not to engage Pakistani assets,” said a Congress spokesperson. The party branded Modi as “Surrender Narender” and mocked External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as “JJ,” accusing the government of prioritizing image over substance.
The remarks attributed to Captain Kumar came during a seminar titled “Analysis of the Pakistan–India Air Battle and Indonesia’s Anticipatory Strategies from the Perspective of Air Power,” held at Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma in Jakarta. Indian media reports claimed Kumar admitted the Indian Air Force had lost aircraft due to operational constraints imposed by civilian leadership.
In response, the Indian Embassy in Indonesia issued a statement rejecting the interpretation of Kumar’s comments.
“His remarks have been taken out of context and misrepresented. The presentation focused on the principle of civilian oversight of the military,” the embassy clarified. It further stated that Operation Sindoor was a limited counterterrorism mission, not a strike against Pakistani military targets.
Despite the denial, the issue has added fuel to India’s political firestorm, with opposition leaders demanding full disclosure on the extent of losses and decision-making during the 86-hour conflict.
Escalation and Ceasefire
Tensions between India and Pakistan flared on April 22 after a deadly attack in Pahalgam claimed 26 lives. India immediately blamed Pakistan, which strongly denied the allegations.
India escalated matters on April 23 by suspending the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, halting visa issuance for Pakistanis, shutting down the Wagah-Attari border crossing, and ordering the closure of Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi. Both nations subsequently reduced diplomatic presence in each other’s capitals.
The situation worsened in the early hours of May 7 when Indian missile strikes hit six locations in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), killing numerous civilians and destroying a mosque. In a retaliatory operation, Pakistan’s armed forces downed multiple Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets.
The conflict escalated again on May 10, with India launching fresh missile attacks on Pakistani airbases. Pakistan responded with Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting Indian missile depots, airbases, and other key military sites.
Later that day, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement following high-level diplomacy. The truce was subsequently confirmed by both Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India’s foreign secretary.
