Trump believes 5 aircraft downed during South Asia clash – SUCH TV

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that as many as five fighter jets were downed during the recent hostilities between Pakistan and India, which erupted following a militant attack in April in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The tensions reportedly de-escalated after a ceasefire agreement in May.

Trump made these remarks during a dinner event with several Republican lawmakers at the White House.

“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 had downed six 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.

Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan that he announced on social media on May 10 after Washington held talks with both sides.

India has differed with Trump’s claims that it resulted from his intervention and his threats to sever trade talks.

India’s position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their problems directly and with no outside involvement.

India is an increasingly important US partner in Washington’s effort to counter China’s influence in Asia, while Pakistan is a US ally.

The April attack in IIOJK killed 26 men and sparked heavy fighting between the nuclear-armed Asian neighbours in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry.

New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan, which Islamabad has vehemently denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation.

On May 7, Indian jets bombed multiple sites in Pakistan, setting off an exchange of attacks between the two countries by fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery that killed dozens until the ceasefire was reached.