Trump acknowledges five aircraft were shot down in recent Pakistan-India clash

WASHINGTON: United States (US) President Donald Trump has confirmed that five fighter jets were shot down during the recent tense standoff between India and Pakistan.

Speaking to Republican lawmakers at the White House, Trump did not specify which side shot down the plane but acknowledged the incident while talking about his role in de-escalating the situation.

The dispute began in April after an attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir, where unknown assailants killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the attack without providing any concrete evidence. In response, Pakistan strongly rejected the allegations and offered full cooperation in an impartial investigation.

While the US condemned the Pahalgam attack, it refrained from endorsing India’s accusations against Pakistan. Tensions escalated rapidly, and on May 7, India reportedly launched military action against Pakistan. Pakistan responded by retaliating strongly, claiming to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including Rafale jets.

Despite Pakistan’s claims, India has consistently refused to confirm the loss of its jets.

However, Trump’s comments serve as an outward admission that the plane was indeed shot down during the exchange.

US media also reported that India had claimed to have shot down a Pakistani plane, which Pakistan denied, saying that no Pakistani aircraft were lost and that India had failed to provide any credible evidence.

The fighting, which involved fighter jets, drones, and artillery, caused significant damage on both sides. India eventually sought US intervention to end the hostilities, which led to a Trump-brokered ceasefire on May 10.

According to Trump, he warned both countries that failure to de-escalate tensions would result in the suspension of trade with the United States.

During the ceasefire talks, Trump also offered to mediate on the long-standing dispute over Kashmir. “I will work with you both to find a solution to the Kashmir issue, even if it takes a thousand years,” he said. Pakistan immediately welcomed Trump’s offer of mediation, while India rejected it and denied the US involvement in securing the ceasefire.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued a statement supporting Trump’s offer, stressing that the Kashmir dispute remains a serious threat to regional and international peace. India, by contrast, has rejected the idea of third-party mediation outright.