Khawaja Asif Denies Indian Claims of Aircraft Destruction Amidst Tensions

Pakistan's Defence Minister Responds to Indian Air Force Claims

Islamabad: On Saturday, Khawaja Asif, the Defence Minister of Pakistan, asserted that no military aircraft were damaged or destroyed by Indian forces during the recent hostilities.

His remarks followed statements from Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who claimed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had downed five Pakistani fighter jets along with a larger aircraft during Operation Sindoor.

Singh mentioned, "We have indications of at least one AWC in the hangar, along with several F-16s undergoing maintenance. We can confirm the loss of five fighter jets and one large aircraft, which could be classified as either an aircraft or an AWC, taken from approximately 300 kilometers away. This represents the largest recorded surface-to-air kill to date," he stated.

He further noted that the operation led to numerous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones, and some missiles landing in Indian territory.

In response, Asif claimed on social media, "Not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed by the Indian side."

He added, "For three months, no such claims were made—while Pakistan provided detailed technical briefings to international media immediately after the incident..."

Asif criticized the Indian Air Force Chief's delayed assertions regarding the destruction of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor, calling them "implausible and poorly timed."

He also suggested that the Indian armed forces suffered heavier losses along the Line of Control. "If the truth is in question, let both sides allow independent verification of their aircraft inventories, although we suspect this would reveal the reality India wishes to conceal," he remarked.

Asif emphasized that any violation of Pakistan's sovereignty would prompt a "swift, sure, and proportional response."

Operation Sindoor was initiated by India on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as retaliation for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

An agreement to cease hostilities was reached between India and Pakistan on May 10 after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile exchanges.