LAHORE:
Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi has reiterated that Pakistan downed six Indian fighter jets during the four-day conflict between the two nuclear armed neighbours in May this year and that the country had documentary evidence in the shape of videos to substantiate its claim.
“We downed six Indian aircraft, with video evidence available,” Naqvi said on Sunday while addressing a seminar in Punjab’s provincial capital.
India launched a series of attacks inside Pakistan on May 7 in what it claimed was a response to the militant attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area of held Kashmir on April 22. Pakistan retaliated to the attacks on May 10, prompting a ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump on the same day.
According to Naqvi, the war effort against Pakistan was not led by Prime Minister Modi but by Amit Shah and Ajit Doval, who respectively serve as home minister and national security adviser in Modi’s cabinet.
The interior minister claimed that the Indian navy, army, and air force had no unified plan.
He stated that Pakistan’s intelligence institutions had access to India’s every move. “If one is determined with strong faith, then Almighty not only helps but also makes victory destiny,” he said.
The minister also claimed that Pakistan received divine help during the conflict.
“India fired seven missiles at Nur Khan Airbase, but none caused damagethey landed either outside the base or elsewhere. In retaliation, Pakistan targeted 36 Indian positions.”
The interior minister added that during the war Pakistan’s political parties stood united, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari playing an important role in diplomacy.
He alleged that India is openly sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan. Naqvi stressed that Pakistan will continue to pursue the Kashmir cause until Kashmiris are granted their right to self-determination.
“The credit for Pakistan’s firm response goes to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who endured the pressure and gave India a fitting reply,” he added.
Last week, Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh claimed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had also shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one large aircraft during Operation Sindoor in early May.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had immediately dismissed IAF chief’s claims, calling them “as implausible as they are ill-timed”. In a statement posted on microblogging site “X”, Asif said it was “ironic” that senior Indian military officers were being made to front “a monumental failure caused by the strategic shortsightedness of Indian politicians”.
He said for three months after the operation, no such assertions were made, whereas Pakistan had immediately provided “detailed technical briefings” to the international media.
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
