Pakistan Downs Five Indian Jets in Retaliatory Strikes

COLOMBO (News 1st); Pakistan’s military announced it had shot down five Indian fighter jets early Wednesday (7) morning in response to Indian air strikes on multiple Pakistani locations.

The confrontation began shortly after 1:00 a.m. when India launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting six sites across Pakistan, including Sialkot, Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad. The Indian strikes were reportedly conducted from within Indian airspace.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the attacks and stated that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had scrambled jets in response. By 2:45 a.m., Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced the downing of two Indian aircraft. A third was confirmed at 3:42 a.m., with state broadcaster PTV reporting that a Rafale fighter jet was shot down 17 nautical miles southwest of Awantipora.

By 5:00 a.m., the Pakistani government confirmed that five Indian jets had been downed, including three Rafale fighters, one Su-30, and one MiG-29.

The military also reported the destruction of several Indian army posts along the Line of Control (LoC), and the downing of multiple drones and quadcopters.

At a press briefing around 7:00 a.m., Minister Tarar claimed that India had “waved a white flag” at the LoC, signaling a retreat.

Tarar emphasized that Pakistan’s response was strictly military and did not target Indian civilians. He criticized India for allegedly targeting non-combatants in its initial strikes, calling it “a cause of shame.”

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking to Bloomberg TV, reiterated the military’s success in neutralizing Indian aircraft and UAVs, and confirmed ongoing operations along the LoC.

India has not officially responded to Pakistan’s claims. If confirmed, the loss of five fighter jets would mark one of the most significant setbacks for the Indian Air Force in decades. The Rafale, a French-made multirole fighter, is a recent addition to India’s arsenal, part of a broader modernization effort.