US President Donald Trump said on Friday that up to five jets were shot down during recent hostilities between India and Pakistan, which began after the Pahalgam militant attack in April. The situation calmed following a ceasefire in May.
Trump, speaking at a dinner with some Republican US lawmakers at the White House, did not specify which side’s jets were involved.
“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 discussing the India-Pakistan hostilities, without offering further detail or clarification.
Pakistan claimed it had downed five Indian aircraft in air-to-air combat. India’s highest-ranking general said in late May that India altered its tactics after initial losses on the first day of fighting and gained the upper hand before a ceasefire was announced three days later, a Reuters report noted.
India also claimed it had downed a few planes belonging to Pakistan. Islamabad denied losing any aircraft but acknowledged that some of its air bases were hit.
Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which he announced on social media on May 10. However, India has challenged Trump’s assertions that he negotiated the ceasefire, distancing itself from his claims that the ceasefire resulted from his intervention and threats to suspend trade talks.
India maintains that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their issues directly, without outside involvement.
India is an increasingly important US partner in Washington’s efforts to counter China’s influence in Asia, while Pakistan remains a US ally.
