Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has dismissed claims by the Indian Air Force chief about the downing of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor, calling the statements false and baseless.
In a post on his official X account, Asif said the claims, made three months after the clashes, were “ridiculous and ill-timed.” He accused Indian military leaders of covering up failures caused by the “strategic shortsightedness” of their political leadership.
The minister stated that no Pakistani aircraft were destroyed, while Pakistan downed six Indian jets, including Rafale fighters, S-400 air defence batteries, and unmanned aircraft. He added that several Indian air bases were also rendered inoperative during the clashes.
Challenging India to allow independent verification of aircraft inventories, Asif expressed confidence that the truth would be exposed. He said Pakistan had already provided detailed technical briefings to global media after the operation, backed by independent observers and foreign intelligence, confirming Indian losses.
Asif warned that political narratives built on falsehoods could lead to dangerous miscalculations in the nuclear-armed region. He stressed that Pakistan’s armed forces would respond firmly to any violation of its sovereignty, citing past operations as proof of readiness.
The remarks came hours after Indian Air Chief Marshal AP Singh claimed that India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and another military aircraft during the May clashes, most reportedly hit by the S-400 missile system. Pakistan has repeatedly denied these claims.
