Donald Trump Reiterates Claims of Five Jets Shot Down in May 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict, India Continues to Reject Mediation Claims
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again asserted that "five jets were shot down" during the brief but intense India-Pakistan military confrontation in May 2025. This statement was made during a recent dinner with Republican lawmakers at the White House. While Trump did not specify which nation lost the aircraft, he also reiterated his assertion that the fighting concluded following his intervention, particularly through the leveraging of trade deal negotiations.
Key Points of the Developing Story:
Trump's Persistent Claim: President Trump stated his belief that "five jets were shot down" during the May 2025 hostilities between India and Pakistan. He did not clarify whether these were losses for India, Pakistan, or a combined total. Furthermore, he emphasized his role in de-escalating the situation, suggesting that the conflict ended due to U.S. pressure linked to potential trade agreements.
India's Consistent Rejection of Mediation: India has steadfastly rejected President Trump's claims of mediation and any U.S. involvement in bringing the conflict to a halt. New Delhi maintains that the cessation of military actions occurred through direct, bilateral talks between the Indian and Pakistani militaries. While India's Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, has acknowledged that the Indian Air Force (IAF) sustained some aircraft losses, he has not confirmed specific numbers or the full extent of these losses. India has also vehemently denied Pakistan's claims of shooting down multiple Indian jets, including Rafales.
Pakistani Claims of Downing Indian Jets: Pakistan has consistently claimed responsibility for shooting down several Indian aircraft during the May 2025 conflict. Some reports from Pakistan have specifically mentioned six Indian planes, including three French-made Rafale fighter jets, though these claims remain disputed by India.
Context of the May 2025 Conflict: The short but sharp conflict erupted in early May 2025, following an April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. India attributed this attack to Pakistan-backed militants, leading to retaliatory cross-border strikes, aerial engagements (including dogfights), and heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed nations. The conflict reportedly lasted for four days, from May 7-10.
Political Fallout in India: President Trump's repeated assertions have ignited a significant political controversy in India. Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, are demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi issue a clear and definitive statement in Parliament addressing Trump's claims and the actual losses incurred by India during the conflict. They accuse the government of a lack of transparency and potentially compromising India's national honor.
This is not the first instance of President Trump making such claims; he has reportedly repeated them multiple times since May 10, when he initially announced a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on social media. His latest remarks have once again brought to the forefront the debate surrounding the precise details of the May 2025 conflict and the nature of any external involvement in its resolution.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
