Trump: Pakistan India Conflict Sees Jets Downed
The downing of jets during the conflict has sparked a debate about the capabilities of the Indian Air Force and the role of Chinese-made arms, with new clues suggesting that Indian errors and the use of Chinese arms may both be to blame for the shootdown.
US President Donald Trump claims that up to five fighter jets were shot down during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, which erupted after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, with both countries providing differing accounts of the incident.
The conflict began after a deadly attack in India-occupied Kashmir's Pahalgam, sparking heavy fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Pakistan claims to have downed five Indian planes in air-to-air combat, while India says it downed "a few planes" of Pakistan. The incident has raised questions about the capabilities of the Indian Air Force and the role of Chinese-made arms in the conflict.
Trump made the remarks at a dinner with Republican lawmakers, but did not specify which side's jets were involved. His statement contradicts India's official position, which maintains that New Delhi acted independently during the crisis and that Washington did not mediate. Pakistan, however, has said that quiet US diplomacy, including direct intervention from the White House, helped calm tensions.
The conflict escalated into heavy fighting between the two sides, killing dozens, before a ceasefire was reached in May. Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for the ceasefire, but India has contradicted his claims, saying they reached an agreement bilaterally with Pakistan. The incident highlights the complexities of the India-Pakistan conflict and the role of international diplomacy in resolving the crisis.