Indian Embassy Defends Navy Officer, Says Remarks on Operation Sindoor Misrepresented

The Indian Embassy in Indonesia clarified that Navy Captain Shiv Kumar’s remarks on Operation Sindoor were misrepresented. His comments on IAF losses and tactical changes were aimed at highlighting civilian oversight and a restrained military approach. The controversy sparked political backlash, prompting the embassy to defend the officer's intent.

The Indian Embassy in Indonesia issued a formal clarification on Sunday, stating that recent remarks made by a Navy officer regarding Operation Sindoor were taken out of context and misrepresented in the media. The statement came in response to controversy following Navy Captain Shiv Kumar’s comments about the Indian Air Force's (IAF) losses during the military operation.

Captain Kumar, India's defence attaché in Indonesia, had made a presentation earlier this month, during which he explained that initial Indian strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir led to the loss of some IAF aircraft. He attributed these losses to political directives that restricted the military from targeting Pakistani air defences or military installations in the first wave of attacks.

Following public dissemination of these remarks, political backlash ensued, with the opposition Congress party accusing the government of compromising national security and demanding accountability. In response, the embassy stated that the comments were misunderstood and that the presentation actually highlighted India’s adherence to civilian leadership and its non-escalatory approach in Operation Sindoor.

The embassy emphasized that Captain Kumar’s remarks aimed to underline the strategic decisions taken under democratic oversight, and that the change in military tactics—such as the eventual use of BrahMos missiles and suppression of enemy air defences—was a response to battlefield realities, not a failure of policy.

Also Read: Man Sentenced to Death for Brutal Murder of Six Family Members in Andhra Pradesh

As criticism mounted, the controversy entered political discourse, with Congress leaders questioning the government's refusal to hold an all-party meeting or a special Parliament session. The Indian Embassy’s clarification aims to prevent further misinterpretation and preserve the integrity of the armed forces’ operational narratives.