Washington – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that up to five fighter jets were shot down during the recent military standoff between India and Pakistan, suggesting a more intense exchange than previously acknowledged by either side.
Speaking at a dinner with Republican lawmakers, Trump said, “Planes were being shot out of the air. Five — five, four or five, but I think five jets were shot down actually.” He was referring to the month-long hostilities earlier this year that followed a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April.
While Pakistan has claimed it downed five Indian aircraft, New Delhi has only admitted the loss of a few planes and asserts that it inflicted significant damage on Pakistani airbases. Islamabad denies any aircraft losses on its side but acknowledges limited damage to infrastructure.
Trump also reiterated his claim that his intervention, alongside a 50-day ceasefire ultimatum, helped bring both nuclear-armed nations back from the brink of escalation. However, India maintains that it handled the situation independently, preferring bilateral channels over third-party mediation.
The April conflict, triggered by a militant attack that killed 26 civilians in Kashmir, quickly escalated into one of the most serious military flare-ups between India and Pakistan in recent years. The exchange involved airstrikes, drone incursions, and artillery shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), before a ceasefire was eventually observed in May.
Though Trump’s comments have not been officially verified, military analysts have noted that the fog of war and political sensitivities often cloud the public disclosure of actual combat losses. Independent experts suggest that some Indian aircraft may have been shot down in the early days of the conflict.
So far, neither the U.S. State Department nor the Indian or Pakistani militaries have commented on the specific number of aircraft losses.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.