Trump Claims 5 Jets Downed Amid Pakistan-India Conflict

• After an April attack, tensions escalated between India and Pakistan.
• A truce was mediated by the US on May 10.
• US President claims credit for the ceasefire, while India remains skeptical.

On Friday, President Donald Trump stated that as many as five aircraft were downed amid the recent hostilities between Pakistan and India, which flared up following a militant attack in April in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The situation de-escalated after a ceasefire was reached in May.

Trump shared these details during a dinner event with some Republican lawmakers at the White House, although he did not clarify which country’s jets he was referencing.

“In fact, planes were being shot down in the air—five, maybe four or five, but I believe it was five jets that were taken out,” he said while discussing the conflict, without providing further specifics.

Pakistan asserted that it had brought down five Indian aircraft during aerial combat. In late May, India’s top general revealed that the nation had adjusted its strategy after initial aerial losses, gaining an upper hand before the ceasefire announcement three days later.

India also contended that it had downed “a few” Pakistani planes, while Islamabad denied any aircraft losses.

Trump has consistently claimed responsibility for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which he announced on social media on May 10 after discussions with both parties.

However, India disputes Trump’s assertion that it was due to his intervention and his threats related to trade negotiations. The official Indian stance emphasizes that New Delhi and Islamabad must directly address their issues without external involvement.

India has become an increasingly important partner for the US in its efforts to balance China’s influence in Asia, while Pakistan remains an ally of the US.

The April attack in IIOJK resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals and reignited intense combat between the two nuclear-capable nations in a long-standing rivalry.

India attributed the attack to Pakistan, which denied responsibility and called for an impartial investigation.

Washington condemned the assault but refrained from directly holding Islamabad accountable.

On May 7, Indian jets targeted locations across the border that New Delhi labeled as “terrorist infrastructure,” triggering a series of confrontations involving fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery, which resulted in numerous casualties until the cessation of hostilities.