Trump Says Up to Five Jets Downed in India-Pakistan Clashes Before May Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that as many as five jets were shot down during the recent India-Pakistan military flare-up, which followed an Islamist militant attack in India-administered Kashmir in April.

Speaking at a White House dinner with Republican lawmakers, Trump credited U.S. diplomacy for helping defuse the situation, which had escalated into days of aerial and artillery exchanges between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

“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, without clarifying which country’s aircraft had been downed or providing further evidence.

Pakistan claimed it shot down five Indian fighter jets during the conflict. India, in turn, said it lost aircraft early on but adapted its tactics, eventually gaining the upper hand before the two sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10. India also claimed to have downed “a few” Pakistani jets. Islamabad denied losing any aircraft but admitted several of its air bases were struck.

The confrontation was sparked by a deadly April attack in India-administered Kashmir that killed 26 Indian personnel. New Delhi blamed the assault on Pakistan-based militants, an allegation Islamabad denied, calling instead for an independent investigation.

On May 7, India launched airstrikes on targets it described as “terrorist infrastructure” inside Pakistani territory, triggering an intense three-day exchange involving fighter jets, drones, missiles, and artillery that left dozens dead.

Trump has repeatedly taken credit for brokering the ceasefire, which he announced on social media on May 10 after U.S. officials held talks with both countries. However, India has pushed back against the claim, insisting the de-escalation was managed bilaterally without foreign mediation. New Delhi has long maintained that any dialogue with Pakistan must be conducted directly and without third-party involvement.

The incident highlighted the fragile and volatile nature of the India-Pakistan relationship. While Pakistan remains a formal U.S. ally, India is increasingly viewed as a strategic partner in Washington’s broader efforts to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The brief but intense military exchange was among the most serious confrontations between India and Pakistan in recent years, underscoring the risks of escalation between two nations with deep-rooted tensions and nuclear capabilities.