On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that during the conflict between India and Pakistan in May, five fighter jets were shot down. However, Trump did not specify how many fighter jets from each country were involved. His statement came during a dinner with Republican lawmakers at the White House.

This claim follows earlier statements from Pakistan, which also asserted that it had shot down five Indian fighter jets. However, India has consistently rejected these claims. In late May, India’s Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan responded to questions about India’s fighter jets being shot down during the military conflict with Pakistan. He dismissed the claims of aircraft damage by Pakistan.

Trump had previously continued to assert that he played a role in mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

Trump’s Claim on Fighter Jet Losses

Trump made his statement about the downed fighter jets during a dinner event with Republican lawmakers. He mentioned that the U.S. had been involved in preventing several serious wars, citing India and Pakistan as examples. Trump stated that fighter jets were being shot down in the region and said, “I believe actually five jets were shot down.”

He continued, “These are two nuclear-armed countries attacking each other.” Trump framed the conflict as an evolving form of warfare. He referred to the situation in Iran, stating that the U.S. had completely destroyed Iran’s nuclear capacity.

Trump also mentioned that trade played a role in stopping the conflict, asserting that the U.S. had used trade agreements as leverage to bring India and Pakistan to a ceasefire. “India and Pakistan were working on this (ceasefire), but it was escalating, and we resolved it through trade,” Trump said. He further added, “We told them that if they continued to attack each other or potentially use nuclear weapons, we wouldn’t engage in trade agreements with them.”

India’s Dismissal of Pakistan’s Claims

General Anil Chauhan, in an interview at the end of May, addressed the claims of Pakistan shooting down Indian fighter jets. He rejected Pakistan’s assertions and said that what truly mattered was not whether jets were downed, but why they were lost.

When asked by a journalist whether at least one jet was shot down, General Chauhan responded, “The important point is not whether jets were shot down, but why it happened.” He stressed that identifying tactical mistakes was crucial, and India had corrected them. He added, “After two days, we applied the learned tactics and launched all our jets, targeting long-distance locations.”

General Chauhan further dismissed Pakistan’s claim that it shot down six Indian fighter jets, calling the information “completely incorrect.” According to him, what was more important was understanding why the jets were lost and how India improved its strategies afterward.

S. Jaishankar’s Rejection of Trump’s Claims

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, rejected Trump’s claims regarding the U.S.’s involvement in mediating the India-Pakistan ceasefire. Jaishankar, in an interview, stated that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was entirely bilateral. He clarified that no third-party intervention was involved, contradicting Trump’s statements.

Jaishankar described his personal experience during a conversation between U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in early May. According to Jaishankar, Vance had warned of the possibility of a major Pakistani attack on India. However, Modi made it clear that India would respond if provoked.

Jaishankar emphasized that India’s approach to Pakistan has always been bilateral. “We have consistently maintained a national consensus that all our issues with Pakistan are bilateral,” Jaishankar stated.

Pakistan’s Claims During the Conflict

Pakistan had earlier claimed that it shot down five Indian fighter jets during the conflict. Pakistan’s military spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed that five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, one Su-30, and one MiG-29, along with a Heron drone, were destroyed. Pakistan’s assertion of shooting down these jets was widely publicized, but India did not respond immediately.

Later, India categorically denied these claims, rejecting Pakistan’s account of the events.

During a seminar in Jakarta, Captain Shiv Kumar, India’s Defense Attaché at the Indian Embassy, made statements that garnered attention. He claimed that due to political directives, the Indian Air Force was unable to attack Pakistani military installations during the initial phase of the conflict. He stated that India had lost some aircraft because the political leadership had set constraints on attacking these military sites or their air defense systems.

However, after these losses, India revised its strategy and launched strikes on Pakistan’s military sites using surface-to-surface missiles and BrahMos missiles. India’s embassy later issued a statement clarifying that Captain Shiv Kumar’s comments had been misrepresented by the media, and his words had been taken out of context.

U.S. Mediation and India’s Stand

Despite Trump’s claims, India has consistently maintained that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was a result of bilateral discussions, without any external mediation.

India’s position has been reaffirmed by Prime Minister Modi during his conversations with President Trump. According to Vikram Misri, India’s Foreign Secretary, Prime Minister Modi made it clear that India’s stance on the ceasefire was entirely bilateral. He further stated that trade discussions with the U.S. had no connection to the ceasefire agreement.

Prime Minister Modi’s conversation with President Trump was followed by a call from Marco Rubio, who informed Modi that Pakistan was ready to engage in dialogue. However, India remained firm in its response, with the understanding that the country would not tolerate any threats or provocations from Pakistan.

The Broader Impact of U.S. Involvement

Throughout the conflict, President Trump has claimed that his involvement helped prevent a full-scale war between India and Pakistan. While Pakistan supported these claims, India has repeatedly rejected the idea of third-party mediation, emphasizing its ability to manage its bilateral issues with Pakistan.

The role of the U.S. in the conflict remains contentious, with India asserting that it was the country’s own strength and resolve that prevented further escalation. India’s diplomatic efforts and military responses were key to ensuring that the situation did not spiral out of control.

The ongoing debate over the India-Pakistan conflict in May has raised several important issues, including the role of international actors like the U.S. and the accuracy of claims made by both sides. While Trump’s assertions about his role in mediating a ceasefire have been disputed, the core of the matter remains the handling of the bilateral conflict by India and Pakistan.

India’s consistent rejection of Pakistan’s claims regarding the downing of fighter jets reflects the nation’s confidence in its military capabilities and its stance on managing relations with Pakistan independently. As the situation continues to evolve, the focus will remain on how both countries engage diplomatically and whether further escalations are averted through direct negotiations.