RAWALPINDI - In a candid assessment of India's military establishment, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has observed how India's once-professional armed forces have become consumed by politics, dragging senior officers into the murky waters of electoral propaganda and manufactured narratives.
If you look at this past year, you can see how India's once professional military became consumed by politics.
- Eagle Eye (@zarrar_11PK) May 7, 2026
Their Air Chief woke up some time after the Marka e Haq and suddenly remembered that they too had supposedly shot down aircraft.
A perfectly professional soldier ended... pic.twitter.com/lu9ZczjE9E
Speaking on the first anniversary of Pakistan's decisive victory in the May 2025 war, the DG ISPR highlighted the stark contrast between the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and the politicization of India's military leadership.
The DG ISPR pointed to the behavior of India's Air Chief following Pakistan's Marka-e-Haq (The Battle of Truth) as a prime example of how politics has corrupted India's military institution.
"Their Air Chief woke up some time after the Marka-e-Haq and suddenly remembered that they too had supposedly shot down aircraft," the DG ISPR observed.
According to the DG ISPR, the Indian Air Chief remained conspicuously silent during the actual conflict when Pakistan had released irrefutable evidence-including radar tracks, missile telemetry, and wreckage footage-documenting the destruction of eight Indian aircraft, including four Rafale jets, one Su-30MKI, one MiG-29, one Mirage 2000, and one Heron UAV.
Days, weeks, and even months after the conflict ended, India failed to produce any credible evidence of their claimed aerial victories. Not a single piece of wreckage. Not a single radar track. Not a single eyewitness account that could be independently verified.
It was only later, when political pressure mounted, that the Indian Air Chief belatedly made claims of shooting down Pakistani F-16s - claims that were immediately debunked by international observers and contradicted by Pakistan's transparent disclosure of its aircraft inventory.
The DG ISR expressed concern that India's military leadership, once known for its professionalism, has been reduced to a tool of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) electoral machinery.
"A perfectly professional soldier ended up dragged into politics," he remarked.
The Indian Air Chief's sudden, post-facto claims were widely interpreted as an attempt to salvage the Modi government's image after the humiliating defeat in Operation Sindoor. India had launched the war expecting a quick victory. Instead, it lost eight aircraft, had its S-400 air defense system neutralized, and was forced to beg for a ceasefire within 87 hours.
Faced with public humiliation, the Indian government turned to its military leadership to manufacture a narrative of "victory." The Air Chief's delayed claims were part of this desperate propaganda effort.
The DG ISPR contrasted India's politicization with Pakistan's unwavering professionalism. The Pakistan Armed Forces, he emphasized, remain apolitical and focused solely on the defense of the nation.
"The world saw the difference. Pakistan's DG ISPR held a press conference within hours, presenting radar data, missile telemetry, and coordinates of downed Indian aircraft. India's Air Chief waited weeks, then made claims without a shred of evidence."
The DG ISPR noted that Pakistan's military leadership-including Field Marshal Asim Munir and the air chief-have consistently maintained their professional focus, staying out of political debates and concentrating on national security.
| Factor | Pakistan | India |
|---|---|---|
| Response to conflict | Immediate, factual, evidence-based | Delayed, contradictory, evidence-free |
| Military leadership | Apolitical, focused on national security | Politicized, used for electoral propaganda |
| Public communication | Through official ISPR channels | Through ruling party spokespersons |
| Acknowledgment of losses | Transparent (never hid own losses) | Systematic cover-up of aircraft losses |
| Respect for professionalism | Maintained hierarchy and discipline | Generals dragged into political rallies |
The DG ISPR's remarks reflect a broader concern about the erosion of military professionalism in India. Under the Modi government, India's armed forces have increasingly been used for political purposes:
Political Rallies: Indian military personnel have been photographed attending BJP campaign events - a violation of the principle of apolitical armed forces.
Manufactured Victories: Following the May 2025 defeat, the Indian government launched a media campaign falsely claiming victory, forcing military officers to parrot party lines.
Cover-ups: As documented by international media, India systematically hid its aircraft losses, reclassifying combat deaths as "accidents" and suppressing news reports.
Intelligence Failures: India's political leadership ignored military advice, launching Operation Sindoor despite warnings of Pakistan's improved air defense capabilities.
Despite India's propaganda efforts, the international community - including the BBC, Reuters, and independent aviation databases - confirmed Pakistan's victory.
BBC verified wreckage footage and satellite imagery
Reuters confirmed the shooting down of Indian Rafale jets by Pakistani J-10Cs
Aviation Safety Network documented the crash of Indian Su-30MKI and Rafale aircraft
US intelligence officials privately confirmed Indian losses to international media
India's attempts to rewrite history have failed. The world saw Pakistan's evidence, and the world believes Pakistan's account.
The DG ISPR concluded by warning that India's politicization of its military is dangerous not only for India's own national security but for regional stability.
"When military professionalism is replaced by political expediency, the likelihood of miscalculation increases. India's political leadership may launch another misadventure based on false assumptions - and Pakistan will respond, as it always has, with overwhelming force."
The message was clear: Pakistan's armed forces remain ready, professional, and apolitical. Whatever narratives India's political establishment manufactures, the ground truth is unmistakable.
