The Impressive TimesNEW DELHI, 19 MAY: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday intensified his criticism of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, questioning the government’s decision to inform Pakistan during the execution of Operation Sindoor and demanding a disclosure on how many Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft were lost in the process.
Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, accused the EAM of remaining silent on a critical issue of national security. “EAM Jaishankar’s silence isn’t just telling — it’s damning. So I’ll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew? This wasn’t a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth,” Gandhi wrote.
The Congress leader also shared a video from May 17 in which Jaishankar stated, “At the start of the operation, we sent a message to Pakistan saying we are striking at infrastructure and not targeting the military, so the military has the option of standing out and not interfering. They chose not to take good advice.”
Congress MP Manickam Tagore echoed Gandhi’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability. “Why was Pakistan informed in advance? Who authorised this breach of operational secrecy? What consequences did our armed forces face because of it? This was not a routine decision. It was not a diplomatic formality. If Indian aircraft were lost because of foreknowledge given to the enemy, this isn’t a lapse — it’s a betrayal,” he posted on X.
Earlier, Gandhi had accused the government of committing a “crime” by informing Pakistan before the strikes and asked: “How many aircraft did our Air Force lose as a result?”
In response to the allegations, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected the claims, stating that the EAM’s remarks were “misrepresented.” The ministry clarified that Pakistan was informed during the early phase after the operation had commenced — not beforehand.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7, 2025, following a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 civilians. The Indian Armed Forces carried out precision strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), eliminating over 100 militants from groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
In retaliation, Pakistan launched cross-border shelling and drone attacks, prompting further coordinated Indian airstrikes on multiple Pakistani airbases. A cessation of hostilities was announced by both countries on May 10.
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