The Narendra Modi-led government has come under renewed pressure following a startling claim by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that five fighter jets were shot down during the tense post-Operation Sindoor conflict between India and Pakistan — a claim that has triggered a political firestorm in New Delhi.
Speaking during a recent event, Trump described the 2024 standoff as a “serious escalation” between two nuclear-armed nations, stating:
“Planes were being shot down in the air. I think five jets were shot down.”
While Trump did not specify which side lost how many aircraft, his statement has added to the uncertainty surrounding India’s actual losses in the conflict — a detail the Indian government has largely kept under wraps.
The remarks prompted a swift political reaction in India, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanding transparency:
“Modi ji, what is the truth about the 5 jets? The country has the right to know!” he posted on social media.
Echoing the demand, Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh called for Prime Minister Modi to issue a “clear and categorical statement” in Parliament, especially given his past camaraderie with Trump, referencing public events like “Howdy Modi” (2019) and “Namaste Trump” (2020).
“President Trump’s remarks are the most sensational disclosure yet. Modi must speak in Parliament,” Ramesh said.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore questioned the government’s silence, asking whether the Centre was “afraid to tell the truth” about how hostilities were de-escalated and at what cost.
Adding to the speculation, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra claimed that India lost at least one Rafale fighter jet, each of which costs taxpayers over $250 million.
“@POTUS says 5 jets downed. At least one was ours. Don’t Indian citizens deserve a detailed post-Operation Sindoor briefing?” she asked.
Though Trump did not detail the nationalities of the five jets involved, media reports and statements from Indian defence personnel have hinted at significant Indian losses, which appear to have occurred during the early days of the skirmish.
In previous off-the-record briefings to the foreign press, India’s officials have acknowledged setbacks.
In May, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, speaking in Singapore, confirmed that India did lose fighter jets, attributing the early failures to “tactical missteps” that were later corrected.
Later, Captain Shiv Kumar, India’s defence attaché in Jakarta, revealed that Indian forces were initially instructed not to strike Pakistani air defences, a limitation which may have led to early losses.
“After those losses, we altered our strategy and began targeting Pakistani military installations,” Kumar said in June.
This revelation has global implications. The post-Operation Sindoor confrontation is believed to be the first real-world test between Chinese-origin weapons used by Pakistan and the Western and Russian arsenal deployed by Indian forces. Military observers and analysts have taken a deep interest in the performance outcomes.
The Economist offered three plausible theories on why India’s fighter aircraft may have been vulnerable:
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Rafale jets were reportedly not equipped with Meteor missiles on the first day of conflict, possibly due to a misjudgment of Pakistan’s escalation capacity.
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India’s fighters may have lacked advanced electronic warfare capabilities or updated software, which made them susceptible to Pakistan’s upgraded air defences.
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A broader issue involved insufficient “mission data” — the digital intelligence needed to interpret Pakistan’s targeting systems and respond effectively.