India’s opposition leader has demanded an explanation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump stated that five jets were shot down during the recent conflict between Pakistan and India.
“Modi ji, what is the truth about the 5 [jets]? The country has the right to know!” declared Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress party, in a post on X. His statement criticized the prime minister, who has faced severe backlash from the opposition following India’s performance in the brief war with Pakistan.
A militant attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), led to a military escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in April. Islamabad responded decisively to New Delhi’s unprovoked strikes, and a ceasefire was brokered days later on May 10, following US intervention.
Pakistan has asserted that it downed six Indian planes in air-to-air combat. India’s highest-ranking general stated in late May that India altered its tactics after experiencing air losses on the first day of hostilities, and subsequently established an advantage before a ceasefire was announced three days later.
During a dinner with Republican US lawmakers at the White House, Trump remarked: “In fact, planes were being shot out of the air. Five, five, four or five, but I think five jets were shot down actually.”
Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which he announced on social media on May 10 after Washington engaged in discussions with both nations.
India has contradicted Trump’s claims that his intervention, along with threats to sever trade talks, led to the ceasefire. India’s consistent position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their disputes directly, without any external involvement.
India is becoming an increasingly vital US partner in Washington’s strategy to counter China’s influence in Asia, while Pakistan remains a US ally.
The April attack in IIOJK resulted in 26 fatalities and ignited intense fighting between the nuclear-armed Asian neighbors, marking the latest escalation in a decades-old rivalry. New Delhi attributed the attack to Pakistan, a claim that Islamabad has vehemently denied, calling for a neutral investigation.
