WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump said on Friday up to five jets were shot down during recent Pakistan-India hostilities that began after an April attack in India-administered Kashmir, with the situation calming after a ceasefire in May.
Trump, who made his remarks at a dinner with some Republican US lawmakers at the White House, did not specify which side’s jets he was referring to.
“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 said while talking about the Pakistan-India hostilities, without elaborating or providing further detail.
Pakistan claimed it downed five Indian planes in air-to-air combat. India’s highest-ranking general said in late May that India switched tactics after suffering losses in the air on the first day of hostilities and established an advantage before a ceasefire was announced three days later.
India also claimed it downed “a few planes” of Pakistan. Islamabad denied suffering any losses of planes but acknowledged its air bases suffered hits.-(Reuters)
