India’s military has acknowledged for the first time that an unspecified number of its fighter jets were shot down during strikes on Pakistani-controlled territory amid intense fighting between the neighbors in early May.

Analysts say the outreach underscores concern in India that it did not receive strong international support for its military operations against Pakistan.

General Anil Chauhan, India's chief of defense staff, said in an interview that India suffered initial losses in the air, but declined to give details.