Trump claims five jets were shot down during India-Pakistan tension; reiterates role in ceasefire mediation

PTC Web Desk:  US President Donald Trump has claimed that around four to five fighter jets were downed during the India-Pakistan hostilities in May, reiterating his earlier claim that he played a pivotal role in brokering a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbours using trade leverage.

Speaking at a dinner with Republican lawmakers at the White House, Trump remarked, “In fact, planes were being shot out of the air. Five—five, four or five—but I think five jets were shot down actually.” He, however, did not clarify whether the aircraft were Indian or Pakistani.

Following the ceasefire agreement on May 10, Air Marshal AK Bharti stated that India had successfully brought down several advanced Pakistani fighter jets, although he refrained from disclosing exact numbers.

Pakistan, on the other hand, disputed the Indian claim, saying only one of its aircraft suffered “minor damage.” The Pakistani military further alleged that it had downed six Indian jets, including Rafales—a claim dismissed by India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

General Chauhan acknowledged that some aircraft were indeed lost during the initial stages of the conflict, but emphasised that the focus should be on understanding the causes and rectifying the errors. “What matters is not just the number of jets downed, but the reasons behind those losses and the lessons learned,” he said.

Despite India’s firm stance that no foreign intervention influenced the ceasefire, Trump continued to claim that his administration prevented an all-out war between the two countries. “India and Pakistan were escalating, and it was getting serious. We solved it through trade,” he said, although Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier informed Trump during a phone conversation that the US had no mediatory role and trade was never discussed during the conflict.