Pakistan claimed that it shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, on the night of May 6-7, 2025, in Kashmir. However, this claim has not been independently verified, and India has dismissed it.
By Our Correspondent
New Delhi : On May 7, 2025, Pakistan claimed that it shot down five Indian fighter jets—three Rafales, one MiG-29, and one SU-30—during an aerial conflict in Kashmir. This claim followed India’s attacks on terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.
India has described these attacks as a response to the terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam on April 22. Pakistan’s claims involve the use of Chinese-made J-10C jets and PL-15 missiles. However, India has not confirmed these casualties and many pictures and videos circulating on social media have been described as old or unrelated!
Questioning the veracity of claims
No solid evidence supporting Pakistan’s claims, such as credible videos or debris confirmation, has come forth. BBC Verify deemed three videos of wreckage from a Rafale in Bathinda, Punjab to be authentic, but only pointed towards the possibility of a loss of one Rafale. CNN reported, citing a French intelligence officer, that one Rafale was shot down, but experts deemed the claim of three Rafales impossible, as India has only 36 Rafales. A 10% loss of the fleet in a single operation would be unusual. A senior officer of the Indian Air Force told Eurasian Times that all pilots returned safely, but did not comment on the condition of the aircraft.
Misleading claims on social media
The pictures of the wreckage of the Rafale on social media, such as the one with the BS-001 serial number, are from before September 2024. Some images were of Mirage 2000 or MiG-21 wreckage, which were incorrectly labeled as Rafale. India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) clarified that the claim of a Rafale crash near Bahawalpur is based on images from a MiG-21 incident in 2021. Other videos, such as footage from video games or the MiG-29 crash in Rajasthan in 2024, were presented in the wrong context. These misleading claims seem to be an attempt to escalate tensions between both sides.
Experts’ Opinions and Geopolitical Impact
Experts, such as Professor Walter C. Ladwig III from King’s College London, have described Pakistan’s claims as exaggerated, as the Rafale is an advanced 4.5-generation jet, considered superior to the J-10C. Even if the loss of a Rafale is true, it could be an embarrassment for India and raise questions about the reputation of Dassault Aviation in France.
However, without independent evidence such as satellite imagery or official statements, the claim of the loss of three Rafales is considered unreliable. This incident has drawn the attention of the global military community, which is studying the comparison of Chinese and Western weapon systems.
An official from India stated that Pakistan’s claim of shooting down three Rafales has not been verified. There is discussion about the possibility of the loss of one Rafale, but India has rejected this. Misleading social media content has fueled confusion.
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• A French intelligence officer told CNN that an Indian Rafale was shot down by Pakistan, marking the first combat loss of this aircraft.
• Reuters reported, citing U.S. officials, that Pakistan’s J-10C fighter jets shot down at least two Indian planes, one of which was a Rafale.
• The Washington Post confirmed the wreckage of two Indian fighter jets, one of which was a Rafale.
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Claim of three Rafale losses
• The Indian Air Force has not confirmed any aircraft losses but stated that “losses in combat are normal” and all pilots have returned safely.
• The Indian government dismissed Pakistan’s claims as “propaganda” and stated that the claim of shooting down a Rafale is false.
• On the other hand, Reuters clarified that some images circulated on social media were from past incidents in 2024 and were incorrectly associated with current events.
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No confirmation of the claim of three
Based on the available information, there is a possibility of the loss of one Indian Rafale, but Pakistan’s claim of shooting down three Rafales has not been independently verified. India has rejected these claims, and said all pictures and videos circulated on social media have been found to be old or unrelated.