Pakistani Defense Minister Refutes Claims of Aircraft Losses During Operation Sindoor, Labels Them as Improbable and Inappropriately Timed
Khawaja Asif, the Defence Minister of Pakistan, has denied claims made by Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh that India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets during Operation Sindoor. Asif labeled the claims as "implausible" and "ill-timed."
During a public lecture in Bengaluru, Air Chief Marshal Singh claimed that at least five Pakistani fighter jets were confirmed killed during Operation Sindoor. He also stated that at least one Airborne Warning and Control System (AWC) and a few F-16s were under maintenance in a Pakistani hangar. Furthermore, Singh claimed that a large aircraft or an AWC was taken at a distance of about 300 kilometres.
However, Asif strongly rejected these assertions, calling them "comical" and "fictional." He argued that the claims were an attempt to cover for the "monumental failure" of India’s political leadership during the confrontation and accused New Delhi of using senior military officers as public shields for that failure.
Asif pointed out that Pakistan had immediately after the conflict provided detailed technical briefings to international media and independent observers that recognized Indian losses instead. He insisted that "not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed" by India during the conflict and challenged both sides’ inventories to be opened for independent verification.
Asif also reiterated that every violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity will invite "swift, surefire, and proportionate response." He added that the losses on the Line of Control for the Indian armed forces were disproportionately heavier.
[1] The Express Tribune, "Pakistan denies losing any aircraft in Indian air strike", August 10, 2021. [2] Dawn, "Pakistan denies losing any aircraft in Indian air strike", August 10, 2021. [3] Geo.tv, "Pakistan denies losing any aircraft in Indian air strike", August 10, 2021. [4] The News International, "Pakistan denies losing any aircraft in Indian air strike", August 10, 2021.
- Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's Defense Minister, disagreed with the claims made by India's Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh about the loss of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor, labeling them as implausible and ill-timed.
- Asif highlighted that India's political leadership allegedly suffered a monumental failure during the confrontation, with senior military officers seemingly used as a public shield for this misfortune.
- The Defense Minister insisted on opening both sides' inventories for independent verification, arguing that not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed by India during the conflict.
