US President Donald Trump has stirred a diplomatic ripple by claiming that five fighter jets were shot down during the recent India–Pakistan conflict that followed the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking at a private dinner with Republican lawmakers at the White House on Friday, Trump cited a brief military escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours, though he offered no specifics about which side suffered the losses or the precise timeline.
‘Five Jets Shot Down’: Trump
“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 remarked, as per a report on ANI. He further added, “But India and Pakistan were going at it, and they were back and forth, and it was getting bigger and bigger, and we got it solved through trade. We said, you guys want to make a trade deal. We’re not making a trade deal if you’re going to be throwing around weapons, and maybe nuclear weapons, both very powerful nuclear states.”
#WATCH | Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump says, “We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that was going on. Planes were being shot out of there. I think five jets were shot down, actually. These are two serious nuclear countries, and they… pic.twitter.com/MCFhW406cT
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2025
The remarks have reignited public attention on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 dead, including tourists.
While the Indian government has largely maintained a tight lid on operational specifics, Trump’s claims have prompted political reactions at home. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, addressing reporters on Saturday, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publicly clarify the US President’s remarks in Parliament.
PM Modi Must Make Clear Statement In Parl: Jairam Ramesh
“The sensational new revelation by President Trump this time around is that five jets may have been downed. The Prime Minister, who has had years of friendship and huglomacy with President Trump, must make a clear and categorical statement,” Ramesh said on X, referencing Modi’s high-profile events with Trump, including Howdy Modi and Namaste Trump.
The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet issued a statement responding to Trump’s comments.
