Islamabad: In a sharp rebuttal that has reignited tensions across the airwaves, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has publicly rejected the Indian Air Force Chief’s explosive claim that six Pakistani aircraft were shot down during Operation Sindoor.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Asif called the IAF chief’s statement “unbelievable” and “inappropriate,” insisting that not even one Pakistani jet was downed by Indian forces during the high-voltage operation that followed the Pahalgam massacre.
“This narrative has not surfaced in the last three months. Suddenly, this improbable claim is being made. The truth is, our aircraft remain untouched,” Asif posted, while counter-accusing the Indian military of suffering “heavy losses” along the Line of Control (LoC) a claim yet to be verified by independent sources.
Just days earlier, Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal A.P. Singh had stunned observers by revealing that the IAF successfully downed six Pakistani aircraft, including five fighter jets, during the clandestine and highly coordinated Operation Sindoor. Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, he credited the S-400 air defense system for neutralizing the enemy’s aerial retaliation and safeguarding Indian skies.
“Precision, preparation, and deterrence that’s what defined Sindoor. Our skies remained secure, and our retaliation was swift,” Singh had said.
The Pakistani denial sets the stage for yet another chapter in the long-running war of narratives between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. While India has been aggressively shaping the global discourse around Operation Sindoor combining military precision with strategic messaging Pakistan appears determined to counter every point with denial or deflection.
“This is about controlling the post-op perception,” said a retired Indian Air Vice Marshal. “If jets fell but no one believes it, did they fall at all? This is narrative warfare 101.”
At the heart of this diplomatic dogfight is credibility not just at home, but on the world stage. With tensions still simmering in Kashmir and the memory of the Pahalgam massacre fresh, both sides are racing to frame Operation Sindoor as a win militarily and morally.
As the fog of war thickens around claims and counterclaims, one thing is clear: in South Asia, the battle for truth is often just as fierce as the battle for territory.