India replaces top air force officer after Rafale jets face setback against PAF

India’s Vice Chief of Air Staff, SP Dharkar, who assumed office seven months ago, has been removed following the Indian Air Force’s failure to effectively maneuver its Rafale jets. The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) detected and forced the advanced aircraft to retreat while they were patrolling over occupied Kashmir.

The state-run television on Wednesday reported that at least four Indian Rafales were spotted patrolling in the airspace of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), but were forced to retreat in panic after a “timely” response from PAF.

The Indian jets’ withdrawal raised questions about the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force. Sources claimed that Vice Chief Dharkar expressed intense dissatisfaction with the performance of his pilots.

Read: Modi sacks Lt Gen Kumar for declining orders to attack Pakistan

Sources claimed that Indian Rafale aircraft found themselves helpless before Pakistani modern radars; they were aggressively searching the Line of Control (LoC) but were jammed by Pakistani radars.

The aircraft fell victim to another 'Operation Swift Retort' by PAF.

The unprecedented failure prompted the government to replace Dhakar with Narmdeshwar Tiwari to build an intra-departmental understanding in the Indian Air Force. 

The removal of the Vice Chief of Air Staff triggered unease in the Indian Air Force as it was a second major military reshuffle after the Pahalgam false flag operation. The Northern Command army commander has already been replaced.

Read: India imposes 23-day ban on Pakistani airlines from entering its airspace

The rapid changes in the top military leadership are evidence of the distrust between the ruling BJP's agenda and the professional autonomy of the forces.

The Modi government removed Indian Lieutenant General MV Suchendra Kumar, who refused to immediately launch an offensive against Pakistan from the post of Commander Northern Command, after the Pahalgam false flag operation.

Tensions at the border escalated just hours after Information Minister Ataullah Tarar announced that India was planning to carry out military action against Pakistan within the next 24 to 36 hours.

While New Delhi has not officially responded to Islamabad’s allegation, the situation appears to have further heightened bilateral tensions.