India reports six Pakistani aircraft were shot down during the conflict in May.

India’s air force chief, Amar Preet Singh, disclosed in a recent address that Indian forces successfully engaged and shot down several Pakistani military aircraft during a period of intensified conflict in May. This marks the first time official reports have confirmed the downing of five Pakistani fighter jets and one additional military aircraft amid heightened tensions between the neighboring countries.

The recent fighting was ignited on April 22, when a tragic incident in Pahalgam, located in India-administered Kashmir, resulted in the loss of 26 tourists. In the aftermath, the conflict escalated to significant military engagement, featuring air strikes and missile attacks that claimed numerous lives on both sides.

During a military event in Bengaluru, Singh outlined that India’s advanced S-400 air defense systems were instrumental in neutralizing a majority of the Pakistani aircraft involved in the skirmishes. He stated that the air forces managed to confirm the destruction of at least five fighter jets and noted the downing of a larger aircraft—a move considered significant as it occurred at a distance of approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles). This incident has been recognized as potentially the largest recorded surface-to-air engagement in the region’s recent history.

While Singh refrained from identifying the specific models of the fighter jets involved, he did mention that strikes also targeted an additional surveillance aircraft and several F-16 fighters stationed at various airbases in southeastern Pakistan. According to Singh, notable damage was inflicted upon the Shahbaz Jacobabad airbase, where half of the F-16 hangar was destroyed.

Despite India’s claims, Pakistan has persistently denied that any of its aircraft were taken down, and there has been no immediate official response to Singh’s assertions. During the same period of conflict, Pakistan asserted that it had downed six Indian military jets, a claim that an Indian military spokesperson characterized as unfounded.

Both countries maintain territorial claims over Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim region that has historically been a focal point of dispute. Armed groups within the India-administered territory have been engaged in resistance against New Delhi’s governance since the late 1980s. While India alleges that Pakistan aids these groups, Islamabad contends that it merely offers political support for the Kashmiri people’s quest for self-determination.

Following a ceasefire declaration in May, sporadic confrontations have continued. Recently, reports noted casualties on both sides, including the deaths of two Indian soldiers and a suspected fighter in the Kulgam district of Kashmir.

As the situation continues to evolve, observers remain watchful for developments that could shape the diplomatic and military landscape between these two nuclear-armed neighbors.

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