Trump says 5 jets were shot down in Pakistan, India hostilities

Rahul demands answers from Modi after Trump’s jet claim

Monitoring Desk

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said that up to five jets were shot down during recent Pakistan, India hostilities that began after an April attack in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), with the situation calming after a ceasefire in May.
Trump, who made his remarks at a dinner with some Republican US lawmakers at the White House, did not specify which side’s jets he was referring to.
“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 Pakistan, India hostilities, without elaborating or providing further detail.
Pakistan said it downed five Indian planes in air-to-air combat. India’s highest-ranking general said in late May that India switched tactics after suffering losses in the air on the first day of hostilities and established an advantage before a ceasefire was announced three days later.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan that he announced on social media on May 10 after Washington held talks with both sides. India has differed with Trump’s claims that it resulted from his intervention and his threats to sever trade talks.

India’s opposition leader has demanded an explanation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump said that five jets were downed during the recent Pakistan-India war.
“Modi ji, what is the truth about the 5 [jets]? The country has the right to know!” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X, slamming the prime minister, who has been under severe criticism from the opposition after India’s failure in brief war with Pakistan.
India has differed with Trump’s claims that it resulted from his intervention and his threats to sever trade talks. India’s position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their problems directly and with no outside involvement.
India is an increasingly important US partner in Washington’s effort to counter China’s influence in Asia, while Pakistan is a US ally.
The April attack in IIOJK killed 26 men and sparked heavy fighting between the nuclear-armed Asian neighbours in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry. New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan, which Islamabad has vehemently denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation.