Trump claims five fighter jets shot down in India-Pakistan conflict
- The military conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025 resulted in significant aerial combat, with both nations claiming to have downed each other's fighter jets.
- Donald Trump asserted at a White House dinner that up to five jets were shot down during the conflict, but he did not clarify which side's aircraft were involved.
- India confirmed losses but withheld specific numbers, emphasizing the importance of resolving bilateral issues directly without external intervention.
In May 2025, India and Pakistan experienced severe military escalations, marking the most intense conflict between the two nuclear-armed countries in decades. This series of hostilities began after India retaliated against Pakistan following a terrorist attack that killed 26 individuals in the Indian-administered Kashmir region. Indian forces targeted camps allegedly used by militants in Pakistan, prompting a fierce response. The escalating confrontation led both nations to conduct extensive aerial operations, with initial reports suggesting aerial combat involving over 125 aircraft, signalling a significant military engagement. During this four-day conflict, both countries claimed to have downed each other’s fighter jets, with Pakistan asserting that it shot down five Indian aircraft, including a French Rafale. India maintained that it had downed