Wed May 07 18:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan’s Defence Minister Bases Jet Downings Claim on Social Media
**ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI** – Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has sparked controversy by claiming that his country’s assertion of shooting down five Indian jets, including Rafales, during Operation Sindoor, is based solely on social media reports. Asif made the admission during a CNN interview, stating the evidence was found on Indian social media platforms. This contradicts earlier official statements from Pakistan.
India launched airstrikes targeting terrorist installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir earlier this week, following the April 22nd Pahalgam terror attack. While Pakistan acknowledged the attack and casualties, its claim of downing Indian jets has been widely disputed.
India’s Press Information Bureau fact-checked a photograph circulating on Pakistani social media, revealing it to be a 2021 image of a crashed MiG-21, unrelated to the recent events. The bureau warned against the spread of misinformation.
Asif, while acknowledging the risk of escalating conflict into a full-scale war, stated Pakistan is prepared for such an eventuality. He also expressed a willingness to de-escalate if India does the same, stating Pakistan hasn’t initiated any hostile actions. However, Pakistan’s top security body has authorized the armed forces to retaliate at their choosing.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh countered by praising the precision and restraint of the Indian military’s actions. The conflicting narratives highlight the heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
First Piper 