ISLAMABAD – Rafale cover-up by Modi-led government failed badly as fighter jet losses were confirmed after an awards ceremony.
Despite repeated denials and attempts to downplay outcome of the recent conflict with Pakistan, Indian government now been forced to admit what it long sought to conceal, the loss of multiple Rafale fighter jets and their pilots during aerial engagements.
The acknowledgment came not through press statement or public briefing, but quietly via announcement of posthumous military awards to over 100 personnel. Among the recipients are three Indian Air Force pilots who were flying Rafale jets during the short but intense war that unfolded in May.
New Delhi consistently dismissed reports of any major setbacks, particularly rejecting Pakistani claims that several of its frontline Rafales were downed during dogfights. However, the posthumous honors especially to pilots specifically linked to Rafale squadrons laid bare the truth.
Those who are closely watching the development now view move as a reluctant admission after internal military pressure and mounting questions over government transparency.
Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos in response to Indian military actions under Operation Sindoor. According to Pakistani military sources, six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, were shot down, along with dozens of drones and radar systems.
For months, Indian authorities denied these losses outright, branding Pakistani reports as propaganda. But quiet awarding of medals and commendations to Rafale pilots, S-400 missile operators, and technical staff from Udhampur, Rajouri, and Uri suggests a much graver toll than previously admitted.
As per reports, nine casualties alone were recorded at Udhampur Airbase, a location Indian authorities had earlier claims remained fully operational and unaffected.
Adding to the controversy, reports have emerged that families of the fallen were instructed not to share photos or tributes online, part of what critics are calling a deliberate attempt to suppress the reality of India’s battlefield setbacks.
Pakistan-India 3-day conflict ended with US-brokered ceasefire on May 10, now taken on new dimensions as facts continue to emerge, challenging New Delhi’s official version and casting doubt on India’s much-touted air superiority narrative.
