Sibal insisted that Pakistan and China act in tandem, equipping Pakistan with advanced aircraft while India relies heavily on ageing fleet assets. He pointed out that Pakistan operates around 25 squadrons, nearly matching India’s numbers, and stressed that India lacks sufficient resources “to destroy Pakistan” alone. He added that India’s Rafale jets are 4.5‑generation fighters, while China will deploy sixth‑generation aircraft by 2025—posing a technological mismatch.
He criticised delays in fighter production, noting the phased withdrawal of MiG‑21s, MiG‑29s and Mirage 2000s has left only Su‑30MKIs and Rafales. He urged that two squadrons be inducted annually to plug the gap—a pace that remains unmet. An internal Indian Air Force study, he said, calls for this rate to sustain numbers, yet progress remains slow.
On strategic development projects, Sibal questioned the pace of progress on the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, projected to enter service only between 2028 and 2029 with production starting in 2032–33. He contrasted this with China’s rapid move into sixth‑generation fighter technology.
Sibal also took aim at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, lambasting the Light Combat Aircraft programme—conceived in 1984—for its failure to deliver at scale. He demanded transparency on why domestic fighter production remained stunted after decades.
He questioned why Union Home Minister Amit Shah had excluded Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from an April security assessment meeting ahead of the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. Bringing Abdullah in, Sibal argued, might have improved ground intelligence.
Opposition figures chimed in to reinforce the argument. CPI’s John Brittas emphasised that military confrontation should remain a last resort and urged diplomatic efforts instead. He also criticised the Prime Minister for entirely omitting any mention of the US President in his lengthy response in the Lok Sabha.
TMC leader Susmita Deb questioned the government’s foreign policy following Operation Sindoor, and asked why India abstained from key IMF deliberations on Pakistan funding. Congress’s Renuka Chowdhury denounced the absence of any reference to Pahalgam victims during parliamentary remarks, and accused the Prime Minister of ignoring victims’ families amid global travels.