NEW DELHI, Oct 3 (Reuters) – India’s Air Force has provided new details about aircraft losses during May’s intense military confrontation with Pakistan, with Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh stating that five Pakistani fighter jets were shot down during the conflict.
Speaking at the Indian Air Force’s annual press conference on Friday, Singh specified for the first time the types of aircraft India claims to have destroyed, identifying them as “high-tech fighters between F-16 and JF-17 class.” The F-16 is manufactured by the United States, while the JF-17 is jointly produced by Pakistan and China.
“As far as air defence is concerned, we have evidence of one long-range strike…along with that five fighters, high-tech fighters between F-16 and JF-17 class, our system tells us,” Singh told reporters.
While the Air Chief had previously disclosed that five Pakistani fighter jets and another military aircraft were destroyed, this marks the first official public identification of the aircraft types involved.
Conflicting Claims
Pakistan’s military has not yet responded to requests for comment on India’s latest assertions.
Islamabad has maintained its own account of the conflict, claiming to have downed six Indian aircraft, including the French-manufactured Rafale. India has acknowledged suffering losses but disputes Pakistan’s figure of six aircraft.
When pressed about Pakistan’s claims regarding Indian losses, Singh declined to provide further details on Friday.
Background to the Conflict
The May hostilities—the most severe between the two nuclear-armed rivals in recent decades—erupted following an attack on Hindu pilgrims in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people. New Delhi accused Islamabad of supporting the assault, which marked the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.
The four-day conflict saw both nations deploy fighter jets, missiles, artillery, and drone systems before agreeing to a ceasefire. Dozens of people were killed in the fighting.
Pakistan has consistently denied any connection to the Kashmir attack. India announced in July that three individuals it described as “terrorists” involved in the assault had been killed, claiming substantial evidence of their Pakistani nationality.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry rejected India’s version of events, characterizing it as “replete with fabrications” and questioning its credibility.
Diplomatic Fallout
Relations between India and Pakistan, which have fought two of their three wars over the disputed Kashmir region, have deteriorated significantly since May. The downturn has affected multiple sectors, including trade, travel, and sporting exchanges between the two countries. Get the latest news from India and how it matters to the world with the Reuters India File newsletter.
