Pakistan Downs Five Indian Jets in Response to Overnight Air Strikes: Officials
The Pakistan military has reportedly shot down five Indian fighter jets in retaliation for overnight airstrikes conducted by India on six different sites, according to senior government and military officials.
The military escalation began around 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, when India launched what it called “Operation Sindoor,” targeting sites within Pakistani territory. In response, Pakistani air defense systems were activated, and retaliatory actions commenced.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that two Indian jets were shot down by 2:45 a.m., with a third following at approximately 3:42 a.m. The military provided an updated situation report around 4:00 a.m., and confirmations of the fourth and fifth aircraft downings came shortly after 5:00 a.m.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that five Indian aircraft, several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and multiple Indian checkposts along the Line of Control (LoC) had been destroyed.
Appearing on Geo News at 5:09 a.m., Minister Tarar reiterated the same, adding, “We downed jets in Akhnoor, Ambala, Barnala, and Jammu. We also brought down quadcopters and a large drone. This is an evolving situation, and we are closely monitoring India’s next steps.”
According to military sources, the five downed aircraft included three French-made Rafale fighter jets, along with one Russian-built Su-30 and a MiG-29. A military spokesperson told Reuters that Pakistani forces only engaged Indian aircraft after they launched strikes on Pakistani territory.
India has yet to issue any official statement regarding the reported loss of aircraft—an incident that, if confirmed, would mark one of the most significant blows to the Indian Air Force in decades and could potentially escalate tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
The Rafale jet, a recent addition to India’s air fleet, is part of New Delhi’s broader effort to modernize its military and reduce reliance on Russian defense equipment. As of this week, India had 36 Rafale jets in operation and recently signed a deal with France’s Dassault Aviation to acquire 26 more for its navy, in a contract worth ₹630 billion ($7.4 billion).
Earlier, Minister Tarar told Sky News that Pakistan’s response was ongoing but withheld operational details. “We shot down two Indian planes and are currently responding to Indian aggression as we speak,” he said.
At 3:42 a.m., state broadcaster PTV reported: “Pakistan Air Force shot down another Indian Rafale aircraft 17 nautical miles southwest of Awantipora. So far, three Indian Air Force fighter jets have been downed.”
PTV also criticized Indian media for circulating “fabricated stories” about Pakistani losses, asserting that “no Pakistan Air Force aircraft has sustained any damage.”
