During a recent security dialogue in Singapore, General Anil Chauhan, India's Chief of Defence Staff, discussed the changes in military strategy following early air losses to Pakistan in a conflict that escalated in early May. The hostilities began after a deadly incident in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily tourists.

This event sparked significant military engagement between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with India executing targeted strikes against what it identified as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan on May 7.

Pakistani military sources claimed that during initial engagements, the country successfully shot down six Indian aircraft, including a notable number of Rafale jets.

Following these confrontations, a truce was declared on May 10 after intense fighting involving a range of military assets including fighter planes, missiles, drones, and artillery.

General Chauhan noted that the initial losses suffered by Indian air forces prompted a revision of tactics to enhance operational effectiveness.

Although he did not provide specific details about the engagements that led to these losses, he emphasized that "what was important is why did these losses occur, and what we’ll do after that.” He further detailed that subsequent missions on May 7, 8, and 10 involved substantial deployment of aircraft, successfully penetrating deep within Pakistan's air defenses to conduct precision strikes.

Additionally, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, India's Director General of Air Operations, stated that while losses are accepted as part of combat, India also claims to have downed several Pakistani aircraft during the conflict.

Following the initial skirmishes, India reportedly refrained from launching any additional fighter jets.

Both General Chauhan and his Pakistani counterpart, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, reconfirmed that at no point during the conflict was nuclear escalation contemplated by either side.

This statement reflects ongoing fears regarding the potential for nuclear confrontation between the two powers, which have a history of military conflicts and nuclear capability since the late 1990s.

Despite Pakistan's longstanding strategic partnership with China, General Chauhan indicated that during the recent conflict there was no observed unusual military activity from Beijing along India’s northern borders.

He noted, “Since April 22, we didn’t detect any unusual activity at the operational or tactical level” on the Indian-Chinese border.

When questioned about the possibility of China providing Pakistan with satellite imagery or other real-time intelligence during the conflict, he categorized such information as commercially accessible and likely obtainable from various sources.

As both nations navigate the repercussions of their latest military engagement, analysts closely monitor the evolving dynamics of South Asian regional security, particularly the implications for India-Pakistan relations and the role of external powers.