WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In a statement released on Friday, US President Donald Trump conveyed that upwards of five jets were reportedly downed during the tense skirmishes between Pakistan and India, sparked by a devastating attack in April in the region of Indian-occupied Kashmir. With tensions high, the situation finally eased following a ceasefire in May.
During a dinner gathering with several Republican US lawmakers held at the White House, Trump articulated, though without specifying the involved party, that jets were being targeted and shot down. ‘Planes, indeed, were being knocked out of the skies. Five, perhaps four or five—I believe five jets were actually shot down,’ he noted, discussing the Pakistan-India hostilities without delving deeper into specifics.
Pakistan has asserted its success in downing five Indian jets through vigorous air-to-air combat. Conversely, by late May, India’s highest military official declared that India had shifted strategies following initial air losses, subsequently gaining the upper hand before a ceasefire was established three days into the hostilities.
India also contended that it had downed ‘a few planes’ belonging to Pakistan, whereas Islamabad refuted any losses of its aircraft, though it admitted its air bases had been struck.
Throughout these events, Trump has consistently taken credit for the cessation of hostilities between Pakistan and India, declaring on social media on May 10 that this truce was a direct result of Washington’s diplomatic dialogues with both parties. However, India has contradicted Trump’s assertion that his involvement was decisive, expressing that New Delhi and Islamabad should tackle their issues independently, without any external intervention.