WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has said five fighter jets were shot down during the recent skirmish between Pakistan and India following the Pahalgam incident.
While addressing Republican members of Congress at the White House, he said the tension between Pakistan and India was intensifying and there was a risk of a nuclear war between the two countries, but he stopped the war.
Trump did not explicitly state that the Indian aircraft were shot down by Pakistan, but he did say that five jets were indeed downed and that, had there not been timely intervention, the situation could have worsened.
“In fact, planes were being shot out of the air. Five, five, four or five, but I think five jets were shot down actually,” Trump said while talking about the India-Pakistan hostilities.
The Pakistan-India conflict began in April with an attack by unknown assailants in the Pahalgam area of Indian-occupied Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. India blamed Pakistan for the attack without providing any evidence. However, Pakistan rejected the accusation and offered to cooperate in an impartial investigation.
The United States condemned the attack but did not support India’s claims against Pakistan.
On May 7, India attempted to impose war on Pakistan. In response, Pakistan mounted a strong defense and shot down five Indian fighter jets, including Rafale aircraft. Although India has consistently denied the destruction of its jets, President Trump’s recent statement reinforces the claim that the aircraft were indeed brought down.
On the other hand, India claimed that it had downed Pakistani aircraft as well, but Pakistan clearly stated that India failed to shoot down even a single Pakistani fighter jet and could not produce any evidence to support its claim.
The ceasefire took effect on May 10, after President Trump spoke with the leaders of both countries and persuaded them to halt the war. He stated that he had made it clear that if the war did not stop, the U.S. would suspend trade with both countries.
Pakistan welcomed President Trump’s offer of mediation and called it an important step toward resolving the Kashmir issue. In a statement from the Foreign Office, it was said that Pakistan appreciates President Trump’s efforts, which are crucial for peace and security in the region.
In contrast, India not only rejected the offer of mediation but also refused to acknowledge the U.S. role in brokering the ceasefire.
