Fact Check: India’s Claim of Shooting Down Pakistani Jets Debunked
Recent claims by India’s air force chief about downing Pakistani jets have been refuted by Pakistan, international observers, and fact-checkers. Here’s the truth.
On August 9, 2025, India’s Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh claimed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had shot down six Pakistani military aircraft, including five fighter jets and a surveillance plane, during clashes in May 2025 258. However, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif immediately rejected the claim, calling it "comical" and politically motivated.
Further investigations reveal that no evidence supports India’s claim, and multiple international sources, including the Pentagon and French officials, have contradicted the assertion 25. This article examines why India’s claim is false and how such misinformation spreads during conflicts.
1. India’s Unverified Claims Contradicted by Pakistan and US
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India’s Claim: The IAF chief stated that S-400 missiles downed most of the Pakistani jets, calling it the "largest surface-to-air kill" in history.
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Pakistan’s Rejection: Pakistan’s Defense Minister challenged India to open its aircraft inventory for independent verification, stating that not a single Pakistani jet was hit .
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US Denial: The Pentagon previously stated it had no knowledge of any US-made F-16s (operated by Pakistan) being hit, further undermining India’s claim.
2. France Contradicts India’s Narrative
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French Air Chief’s Statement: General Jerome Bellanger confirmed that three Indian jets were lost, including a Rafale, but did not verify India’s claim of downing Pakistani aircraft 2511.
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Dassault’s Silence: The maker of the Rafale jet did not confirm any Pakistani losses, raising further doubts about India’s claims.
3. Misinformation and Propaganda in India-Pakistan Conflicts
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Fake Videos & AI Manipulation: Multiple old videos, game footage, and AI-generated clips were falsely shared as "proof" of Indian strikes.
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One viral clip supposedly showing Pakistan’s retaliation was actually from the 2020 Beirut explosion.
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Another widely shared "attack" footage was from the video game Battlefield.
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Indian Media Amplification: Several Indian news channels uncritically repeated false claims, including unverified reports of Karachi port being destroyed—later debunked.
4. Why Does India Spread False Claims?
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Domestic Political Gains: Experts suggest such claims are meant to boost nationalist sentiment ahead of elections.
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Distracting from Losses: India has not acknowledged its own losses (including Rafale jets) while exaggerating enemy casualties.
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Psychological Warfare: False narratives are used to demoralize the opponent and manipulate global opinion.
Conclusion: A Pattern of Disinformation
India’s claim of shooting down Pakistani jets lacks credible evidence and has been refuted by Pakistan, the US, and France. The spread of such fake news follows a recurring pattern where misleading videos, AI-generated content, and exaggerated claims are used to fuel tensions.
For accurate updates, rely on verified sources rather than propaganda-driven narratives. The truth matters—especially when nuclear-armed rivals are involved.
References & Fact-Checks
