Washington, D.C., July 19 — Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that five jets were shot down during the recent military confrontation between India and Pakistan, which followed a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Speaking at a private dinner with Republican lawmakers at the White House, Trump said, “Planes were being shot out of the air. Five, five, four or five, but I think five jets were shot down actually.” He did not specify which country’s aircraft were involved.
The remarks have reignited attention on Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory military campaign launched in early May after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, including several tourists. The military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors lasted four days and involved air and missile strikes.
#WATCH | Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump says, "We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that was going on. Planes were being shot out of there. I think five jets were shot down, actually. These are two serious nuclear countries, and they… pic.twitter.com/MCFhW406cT
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2025
Pakistan’s Claim and India’s Response
Pakistan has asserted that its air force shot down multiple Indian aircraft during the exchange, including three Rafale fighter jets, and claimed to have captured Indian pilots. However, Islamabad has not presented any evidence to support these claims.
India has remained tight-lipped about specific losses but has categorically denied the loss of any Rafale jets or the capture of its pilots. In a post-conflict statement, Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan acknowledged that the Indian Air Force (IAF) did suffer losses but rejected Pakistan’s claim of destroying six Indian jets.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, General Chauhan said, “What is important is not the number of jets downed, but why they were downed. Numbers are not important.” He emphasized India’s rapid adaptation and strategic success during the conflict, highlighting deep precision strikes conducted 300 kilometers into Pakistani territory.
Dassault Denies Rafale Loss
On June 15, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier dismissed Pakistan’s claim regarding Rafale losses as “factually incorrect.” In an interview with the French magazine Challenges, Trappier stated, “What Pakistan is claiming about downing three Rafales is simply not true. The actual facts, when fully disclosed, may surprise many.”
Dispute Over U.S. Mediation Role
Trump also claimed that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, declared on May 10, resulted from U.S. diplomatic efforts. He suggested that trade negotiations were used as leverage to halt the escalation. “These are two serious nuclear countries… and we got it solved through trade,” he said. Trump compared the situation to past U.S. actions in Iran, suggesting a broader role in preventing major conflicts.
However, India has firmly rejected this version of events. Officials in New Delhi have maintained that the crisis was resolved through bilateral channels without external mediation or pressure. They have also denied that trade negotiations with the U.S. were ever threatened or used as diplomatic leverage.
Operation Sindoor: A Coordinated Response
India launched Operation Sindoor on the night of May 7 with coordinated efforts by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Over 72 hours, Indian forces carried out strikes on targets identified as terrorist infrastructure and military installations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Air Marshal A.K. Bharti confirmed on May 11 that all Indian pilots had returned safely following the operation.
