Minister rejects Indian Air Chief’s claims, offers joint verification of aircraft losses

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal defence minister Khawaja Asif has strongly dismissed the Indian Air Force chief’s recent claim of shooting down six Pakistani fighter jets, calling it “belated, ill-timed, and unbelievable,”.

Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday, Asif said the Indian military leadership was being used to cover up the strategic failures of the Indian political establishment.

“For three months, India made no such claims. Now, suddenly, this fabricated story is being pushed forward,” he stated.

The defence minister further remarked that Pakistan had provided detailed technical briefings to international media immediately after the May 2025 skirmish, with independent observers confirming India’s losses.

“The destruction of multiple Indian aircraft, including the Rafale, has been acknowledged by global leaders, Indian politicians, and foreign intelligence reports,” he added.

Asif asserted that Pakistan had destroyed six Indian jets, S-400 defense batteries, and drones, while India failed to down a single Pakistani aircraft.

He also commented that Pakistan had swiftly neutralized Indian airbases and inflicted heavy human and material losses on Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

Asif proposed that both countries submit their aircraft records for independent verification.

“Such an audit would expose India’s actual losses to the world,” he said, adding that wars are won through “moral superiority, national resolve, and professional skill—not lies.”

The defence minister cautioned that India’s “fabricated and absurd claims” for political gains could lead to dangerous strategic miscalculations in the nuclear-armed region.

He reiterated Pakistan’s stance of giving a “swift, robust, and effective response” to any aggression, as demonstrated during Operation Swift Retort (Baniyan Marsoos).

Asif issued a stern warning, stating that any attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty would result in full accountability falling on India’s “strategically blind leadership.”