U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that up to five fighter jets were shot down during a recent military confrontation between India and Pakistan, which began after a deadly militant attack in April in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Speaking at a dinner event 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." However, he did not specify which country’s aircraft were hit.
The April 2025 militant attack, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian paramilitary personnel, triggered the latest round of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed rivals, leading to aerial strikes, drone warfare, and heavy artillery exchange along the Line of Control (LoC).
Pakistan claims It downed six Indian aircraft including rafales
Meanwhile, the Pakistani government claimed that six Indian aircraft were shot down during the three-day military standoff. The downed aircraft reportedly included:
- Three Rafale fighter jets
- One MiG-29
- One Sukhoi SU-30
- One Israeli-made Heron surveillance drone
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials said the aircraft were attempting to conduct stand-off strikes on Pakistani targets but were intercepted before crossing into Pakistani airspace.
Dassault aviation shares plunge after jet losses
In the aftermath of the aerial dogfight, shares of Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of the Rafale jet, plunged 6% on May 7.
The market reaction came amid reports that three of the downed Indian jets were Rafales, a flagship acquisition by the Indian Air Force.
Market analysts said the loss of such advanced fighter jets in a real combat scenario could damage the brand’s reputation and lead to geopolitical scrutiny over arms sales in South Asia.
India denies aircraft losses
While Pakistan maintains it suffered no aircraft losses, India has claimed that it shot down “a few” Pakistani planes during the same engagement. However, no official confirmation or visual evidence has been provided by the Indian military.
Read here: Rafale maker’s shares plunge as Pakistan downs 5 Indian jets
India’s highest-ranking general said in late May that the Indian Air Force suffered initial losses on the first day of hostilities, prompting a shift in strategy that helped India regain tactical superiority before a ceasefire was reached.
New Delhi has rejected Trump’s claims that the ceasefire was a result of U.S. diplomatic pressure, maintaining that any resolution with Pakistan must be bilateral and without third-party mediation.
Trump again takes credit for ceasefire
Trump has repeatedly asserted that the May 10 ceasefire was a direct outcome of U.S. intervention. He took to social media earlier this year claiming that Washington engaged in high-level talks with both sides to prevent the situation from spiraling into a broader conflict.
“Had we not stepped in, this could have escalated to a level that nobody wants to think about,” Trump said during the White House dinner. “We were close to a very serious war.”
Washington condemned attack but avoided blaming Islamabad
The April militant attack in IIOJK, which sparked the conflict, was swiftly condemned by the United States. However, Washington stopped short of directly blaming Pakistan, calling instead for a neutral investigation into the incident.
India accused Pakistan of harboring the militants responsible, a charge Islamabad strongly denied. The Pakistani government called the allegations “baseless” and demanded an international probe.
