Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly dismissed the claims made by Indian Air Chief regarding the downing of Pakistani aircraft during Pak-India standoff in May this year.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Khawaja Asif said that the delayed assertions made by the Indian Air Chief were unrealistic and baseless.
He said that senior Indian military officials are being brought to divert attention from the failures caused by the short-sightedness of Indian politicians.
He added that no such claims had emerged from India in the past three months.
“Pakistan provided the international media with immediate and detailed technical briefings over the issue,” he said.
He added that independent sources confirmed the downing of multiple Indian aircrafts, including Rafales.
Evidence includes references from global leaders, senior Indian politicians, and foreign intelligence reports.
“Not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed in the Indian assault,” the defence minister said.
Asif went on to say that Pakistan successfully downed six Indian fighter jets, destroyed the S-400 air defence system and neutralised several Indian airbases.
He added that the Indian armed forces suffered huge losses along the Line of Control.
“If there is any doubt about the truth, both countries should allow an independent verification of their aircraft records,” Asif challenged.
The Pakistani defence minister said that wars are not won through lies but through moral superiority, national resolve, and professional excellence.
Earlier in the day, Indian Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh claimed that India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during clashes in May.
It was the first such statement made by India months after it suffered a defeat by Pakistan.
