Washington, D.C.( The COW News Digital) Former U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that five fighter jets were shot down during the recent Pakistan-India conflict, marking the first public acknowledgment by a major world leader regarding the extent of aerial losses in the brief war.
Speaking during a Republican congressional gathering at the White House, Trump refrained from specifying which side was responsible for downing the aircraft, but clearly stated, “In reality, five jets were shot down.” He described the situation at the time as “spiraling out of control” and credited his intervention for halting what could have become a catastrophic war.
The conflict erupted following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam region in April 2025, where 26 people were killed by unknown assailants. India promptly blamed Pakistan without offering concrete evidence. Islamabad strongly denied the accusations and offered full cooperation in any neutral investigation.
On May 7, India launched a limited military offensive against Pakistan. In response, Pakistan retaliated with full force, reportedly shooting down five Indian jets, including advanced Rafale aircraft. While India avoided officially confirming the losses, Pakistan released footage and evidence of the downed jets. Indian authorities, however, failed to provide any credible counter-evidence to support their claims of having downed Pakistani aircraft.
Trump’s statement is being seen as a veiled endorsement of Pakistan’s version of events, especially since he acknowledged the downing of aircraft but avoided directly attributing responsibility. Western media had previously reported that India’s denials conflicted with evidence emerging from independent defense analysts.
Trump also took credit for brokering the May 10 ceasefire, claiming that he warned both sides of potential trade consequences with the U.S. if they failed to de-escalate. He noted that “both leaders listened,” and as a result, a full-scale war was averted.
Trump further offered mediation on the long-standing Kashmir dispute, proposing to work with both nations for a peaceful solution. Pakistan welcomed the offer, highlighting its willingness to resolve the issue diplomatically, while India rejected the proposal outright.
In a notable diplomatic gesture, Pakistan formally nominated Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing his role in preventing a wider regional war. A letter signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has already been submitted to the Nobel Committee.
