Embassy Defends Navy Officer Remarks

New Delhi, 30 June 2025:

Following a flurry of media attention, the Indian Embassy in Indonesia has clarified that remarks ascribed to Defence Attaché Captain Shiv Kumar regarding Operation Sindoor were "taken out of context." During an academic seminar organised by an Indonesian university, Captain Kumar gave a description of the first steps taken by the Indian military in Operation Sindoor, which was initiated on May 7th in reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack. But according to a number of reports, he revealed private information about aircraft losses and military limitations, which caused a stir.

"The media reports are a misrepresentation of the intention and thrust of the presentation made by the speaker," the embassy responded in an official statement on Sunday. It was made clear that Captain Kumar's comments were "quoted out of context" and did not accurately represent the purpose of the seminar discussion. The embassy also emphasised that Captain Kumar had emphasised the idea of civilian command of the Indian military. "It was also explained that the Indian response was non escalatory and the goal of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorist infrastructure," the clarification continued.

Amid increased political scrutiny, the clarification was made. That same day, the Congress party reaffirmed its allegations that India had lost fighter jets during the operation and charged that national security had been jeopardised by the Modi administration's failure to fully inform the country. Operation Sindoor is portrayed by India's military leadership, including Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, as a measured and decisive response in the larger context. Earlier this month, Admiral Tripathi had said that the operation “showcased India’s naval strength and operational readiness” and compelled enemies to look for a ceasefire.

In the meantime, the Ministry of External Affairs had previously denounced Pakistan's propaganda narrative and written off counterarguments as part of a "malicious misinformation campaign". Targeted attacks against militant infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir were part of Operation Sindoor, which was started in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. 

After four days of fighting, both nations agreed to a ceasefire on May 10. The purpose of the embassy's statement is to reiterate that Captain Kumar's observations were purely academic and did not reveal military strategy. It reiterates at the end that India's official position is still "consistent and unchanged" and that any reports that suggest otherwise are misconstrued.