Operation Sindoor: ‘It’s all on social media’: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asifs strange justification for IAF jet downing claim
Pakistan’s National Security Committee has authorised its armed forces to retaliate "at a time, place, and manner of their choosing" in response to Indian military strikes
PTC Web Desk: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stirred controversy by attributing his country’s claim of downing five Indian fighter jets — including Rafales — during Operation Sindoor to social media chatter, rather than verifiable evidence.
In an interview with CNN, Asif made the unusual assertion when asked to substantiate Pakistan’s claims. “It’s all on social media, and it’s Indian social media, not ours. The debris of the jets fell on their side. It’s all over the Indian media,” Asif responded when pressed by the journalist for concrete proof.
The remarks come in the wake of India’s targeted strikes early Wednesday morning, which destroyed multiple terrorist facilities — including training camps and launchpads — in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes, which India carried out in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, reportedly killed several terrorists. Pakistan has acknowledged the Indian offensive and the resulting casualties.
Shortly after, India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-checking unit debunked visuals circulating on Pakistani social media that purported to show a downed Indian Rafale jet. According to PIB, the widely shared image was actually from a 2021 incident in which an Indian Air Force MiG-21 crashed in Punjab’s Moga district.
“Beware of old images shared by pro-Pakistan handles in the present context,” PIB cautioned in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “An old image showing a crashed aircraft is being circulated with the claim that Pakistan recently shot down an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur during Operation Sindoor. #PIBFactCheck confirms that this image is from a 2021 MiG-21 crash.”
Despite the absence of verifiable evidence, Asif reiterated concerns that rising tensions between the two nations could escalate further. “There is a possibility of this conflict expanding into a full-fledged war, which we are trying to avoid,” he told CNN.
Calling India’s cross-border strikes “a clear violation and an invitation to expand the conflict into something much broader and more dangerous for the region,” Asif maintained that Pakistan remained prepared for any eventuality. However, he suggested that Islamabad is open to de-escalation if India steps back.
Speaking earlier to Bloomberg Television, Asif said, “We have consistently stated over the past fortnight that we will not initiate hostility towards India. But if attacked, we will respond. If India de-escalates, we will also wind down tensions.”
Pakistan’s National Security Committee on Wednesday authorised its armed forces to retaliate "at a time, place, and manner of their choosing" in response to Indian military strikes.
Meanwhile, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the Indian armed forces, stating that the military had “scripted history” by eliminating terror camps with “precision, precaution, and compassion.”