Lahore: A Pakistani minister on Sunday reiterated Islamabad’s earlier claim of downing six Indian jets during the four-day military conflict in May, but did not provide any evidence to support it.
India’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan, speaking in Singapore on May 31, had dismissed Pakistan’s claim as “absolutely incorrect.”
At a seminar, Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Islamabad refrained from making a formal announcement until “concrete evidence” is collected.
Gen Chauhan had previously acknowledged that India suffered some aircraft losses but did not specify the number. Earlier this month, India’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, stated that India had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets along with a large aircraft.
Naqvi asserted, “Although radar data confirmed the downing of the Indian aircraft, Pakistan chose not to announce it until concrete evidence was available. We have video footage of all six Indian planes that were shot down.” He did not, however, indicate when this evidence would be made public.
The minister also claimed that during the conflict, Pakistan had complete knowledge of India’s plans, including the aircraft that would be deployed. “Whatever strategy India devised, we learned about it in time,” he said.
He further stated that none of Pakistan’s critical assets were damaged during India’s missile strikes on its seven airbases.
