After months of denial, the Indian military has indirectly admitted to major troop losses. The acknowledgement came as the armed forces announced military honours for several deceased personnel, including elite Rafale fighter jet pilots.
This sudden recognition has exposed the extent of Indian military casualties during Operation Sindoor. Until now, the government had kept these losses hidden from the public.
Sources confirm that over 250 Indian soldiers were killed during the operation. Most of these personnel deaths occurred along the Line of Control (LoC). The silence around these deaths was finally broken when the military released the honours list.
Four Indian Air Force pilots, three of whom flew Rafale aircraft, will now receive posthumous awards. The list also includes five members of the S-400 air defence system. These soldiers were killed during a strike at the Adampur Airbase, according to internal sources.
Nine more individuals lost their lives at Udhampur Airbase. These fallen soldiers included air defence staff. In addition, two troops from the Rajouri aviation base and four from the Uri supply depot will also be honoured. Uri’s officer-in-charge was among the dead.
Insiders claim that the families of the victims have been told not to share pictures or tributes on social media. The move appears to be part of an ongoing effort to downplay the military fatalities.
Critics are now demanding answers. If there were no Indian military casualties, why are so many being honoured now?
In the past, India had rejected reports of deaths at major military sites like Pathankot and Udhampur. But international reports say Pakistan’s counterattacks were far more effective than India had admitted.
In response to unprovoked missile attacks from India, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. This large-scale military action targeted key Indian installations across multiple locations.
According to confirmed reports, Pakistan shot down six Indian Air Force fighter jets. Three of these were Rafale aircraft. Many Indian drones were also destroyed. These troop losses eventually forced India to accept a ceasefire.
After 87 hours of fighting, both nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to halt the conflict on May 10. The truce was mediated by the United States.
According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 53 people died in the confrontation. This number includes 13 members of Pakistan’s military and 40 civilians. These deaths were the result of Indian missile strikes during the recent conflict.