Unresolved Claims: Fighter Aircraft in Indian Air Force Reportedly Downed by Pakistan

Four days after India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire following a rapid escalation in military conflict, key differences regarding their battlefield claims remain unresolved. Among the most significant is Pakistan’s assertion that it shot down five fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force on May 7, the first day of fighting, in response to Indian attacks on its territory. As a battle of narratives takes over from the actual fighting, let’s take stock of what is known about that claim and why, if true, it matters for the Indian Air Force.

What Happened?

Tensions between India and Pakistan erupted into military confrontation on May 7 after India bombed nine sites across six cities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India stated it had struck “terrorist infrastructure” in response to the deadly April 22 killings of tourists by suspected rebels in India-administered Kashmir. Gunmen shot dead 25 male tourists and a local pony rider in Pahalgam, triggering outrage and calls for revenge in India. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for supporting the fighters responsible for the attack, a charge Islamabad denied.

Pakistan countered that Indian forces on May 7 struck two cities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and four sites in the country’s largest province, Punjab, claiming civilians were killed. India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh rejected the Pakistani claims, reiterating that Indian forces “struck only those who harmed our innocents”.

Over the next four days, the two nuclear-armed neighbours engaged in tit-for-tat strikes on each other’s airbases, while unleashing drones into each other’s territories. Amid fears of a nuclear exchange, top officials from the United States called Indian and Pakistani officials to end the conflict. On May 10, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington had successfully mediated a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Despite initial accusations of violations by both sides, the ceasefire has continued to hold so far. Pakistan reported that Indian strikes killed at least 51 people, including 11 soldiers and several children, while India stated at least five military personnel and 16 civilians died.

Damaged shop in Kashmir after India-Pakistan shelling

Pakistan’s Claims on Downed Indian Jets

Speaking shortly after the May 7 attacks, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserted that Islamabad, in retaliation, had shot down five Indian jets, a drone, and many quadcopters. Later, Pakistan’s military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry specified that the warplanes had all been downed inside Indian territory. Aircraft from neither side crossed into the other’s territory during the attacks – an assertion India also made.

British defence analyst Michael Clarke noted that “Neither India nor Pakistan had any need to send their own aircraft out of their own national airspace.” He added that their standoff weapons had sufficient range to reach targets from within their own airspace.

On Friday, Pakistan’s Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed claimed that among the five downed fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force were three Rafales, a MiG-29, and an Su-30, providing electronic signatures and exact locations where the planes were hit. The confrontation featuring Pakistani and Indian jets lasted for just over an hour, according to Ahmed, the deputy chief of operations. He stated that the confrontation involved at least 60 fighter aircraft india from India, including 14 French-made Rafales, while Pakistan deployed 42 “hi-tech aircraft,” including American F-16s and Chinese JF-17s and J-10s. This detailed account from Pakistan included specific types from the list of indian fighter aircrafts they claimed were shot down, highlighting the potential impact on the top 10 multirole fighter aircraft category represented by the Rafale. When discussing the engagement, Pakistani officials pointed to the performance of pak fighter aircraft in countering the Indian air presence.

India’s Official Response

Following reports, including one from Chinese state news outlet The Global Times suggesting Pakistan had brought down Indian fighter planes, India’s embassy in China described the report as “disinformation”. However, New Delhi has not formally confirmed or denied Pakistan’s specific claims about downing Indian jets.

Asked directly whether Pakistan had managed to shoot down Indian jets, India’s Director General of Air Operations AK Bharti avoided a direct answer. He stated, “We are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of it. As for details, at this time I would not like to comment on that as we are still in combat and give advantage to the adversary. All our pilots are back home.” This response acknowledged potential “losses” without confirming the number or type of Indian Air Force aircraft involved or specifically addressing Pakistan’s claims.

Other Reports and Evidence

Beyond the official accounts, local and international media outlets have reported different versions regarding Pakistan’s claims of downing Indian jets. According to Indian security sources who spoke to Al Jazeera, three fighter jets crashed inside India-controlled territory. They did not confirm which country the warplanes belonged to. However, given that neither side suggested Pakistani planes crossed into Indian airspace, any debris in Indian-controlled territory would likely originate from an Indian plane.

Reuters news agency, citing four government sources in Indian-administered Kashmir, also reported that three fighter jets crashed in the region. Reports in CNN said that at least two jets crashed, while a French source told the US outlet that at least one Rafale jet had been shot down. Photos taken by AP news agency photojournalists showed debris of an aircraft in the Pulwama district in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The Significance of the Claims

Defence analyst Michael Clarke suggested that if India has indeed lost a Rafale, it would certainly be “embarrassing”. He added, “If it came down inside Indian territory, which must be the case if one was destroyed, then India will want to keep it only as a rumour for as long as possible.” Clarke believes India’s statement that “losses” are inevitable is likely as close as they will get to admitting a specific aircraft loss publicly for some time, particularly regarding potentially sophisticated fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force.

Conclusion

The recent military escalation between India and Pakistan saw conflicting claims regarding aerial engagements. Pakistan asserted that it successfully shot down five fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force, including specific types like the Rafale, MiG-29, and Su-30, providing details on locations and electronic signatures. India has officially denied reports of its jets being downed as disinformation but has also acknowledged that “losses are a part of combat” without providing specifics. Reports from various media outlets and sources citing officials in Kashmir suggest that multiple jets, potentially three, crashed within Indian territory, aligning with Pakistan’s claim of downing jets on the Indian side of the border. The discrepancy between Pakistan’s detailed claims and India’s non-committal stance regarding specific losses leaves key questions about the air battle unresolved, particularly concerning the status of high-value Indian Air Force aircraft like the Rafale.