PAF Downs 5 Indian Jets; DG ISPR Reveals Evidence in Joint Briefing

Islamabad — In a major development, Pakistan’s military leadership publicly exposed what it called “India’s false narrative” regarding recent air combat incidents, presenting concrete evidence of the downing of five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets during a historic aerial engagement on the night of May 6 and 7, 2025.

In a joint press conference held in Islamabad, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) and a senior officer of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) revealed that Pakistan’s fighter pilots successfully shot down five Indian aircraft during a dogfight that lasted over an hour — one of the longest in Pakistan-India air combat history.

The aircraft destroyed included three advanced Rafale jets, one MiG-29, and one SU-30. DG ISPR stated that the PAF’s operations were conducted in strict defense of Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty following Indian aerial aggression.

India has denied losing any aircraft, sticking to its traditional stance of deflection and misinformation. However, multiple Indian media outlets initially reported aircraft losses before being forced to retract the stories under government pressure. DG ISPR specifically cited India Today‘s coverage, which first broke the news of a crash near Pampore in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Reports of crashes in Ramban and Bhatinda were also confirmed by Indian journalist Praveen Sawhney and other credible sources, including The Hindu and The Indian Express.

Video evidence shown during the press conference included debris of downed jets, tail sections, and engine parts clearly marked with Indian aircraft serial numbers. One of the destroyed aircraft was confirmed to be a Rafale BS-001 from the IAF’s 17 Golden Arrows Squadron.

“We live in the 21st century, not the 18th — every action leaves behind a trail,” DG ISPR said, underscoring the forensic and satellite proof presented.

BBC’s local correspondent, reporting from Kashmir, corroborated the sound of explosions near Pampore and Ramban on the night in question, suggesting aircraft crashes. DG ISPR also highlighted the suppression of journalists in India, noting that Praveen Sawhney and Karan Thapar were blocked from appearing on major platforms like The Wire after speaking out.

Read more: DG ISPR confirms 31 civilian deaths, criticises Indian attacks on Pakistan

Pakistan reiterated that all its air operations were defensive and aimed solely at protecting national sovereignty amid heightened regional tensions following recent hostilities.

The press conference comes amid growing calls for transparency and accountability from international observers, as regional stability remains in delicate balance following the Pakistan-India ceasefire earlier this week.