Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully downed six Indian fighter aircraft during last week’s military standoff between Pakistan and India, describing it as a demonstration of the PAF’s operational superiority and readiness.
Speaking during a visit to the Pakistan Air Force base in Kamra, the Prime Minister revealed that the sixth aircraft was shot down during the night of May 6–7, when tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors reached a critical point.
“This is further evidence of the Pakistan Air Force’s exceptional combat capability and the unwavering resolve of our armed forces,” said PM Shehbaz.
According to officials, the destroyed Indian aircraft include three Rafale jets, one Sukhoi Su-30, one MiG-29, and one Mirage 2000—representing some of the most advanced aircraft in the Indian Air Force’s fleet.
In addition to the manned aircraft, Pakistan’s air defense forces also brought down 85 Indian drones. Among them was an Israeli-made Heron UAV, alongside 84 quadcopters and surveillance drones reportedly used for reconnaissance and targeting.
The Prime Minister’s visit came amid heightened border tensions, with both Islamabad and New Delhi accusing each other of repeated airspace violations and provocative military actions.
During a joint press conference, Pakistan military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry and Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed of the PAF described the recent engagements as a “decisive 6-0 air superiority victory” over India.
“The Pakistan Air Force operated with full preparedness—both in peace and wartime scenarios,” said AVM Aurangzeb. “We exercised our right to self-defense, neutralizing threats as they arose, in accordance with the directives of the Air Chief.”
He added that all incoming drones and missiles were systematically tracked and engaged through Pakistan’s integrated air defense system. The PAF employed a combination of soft and hard kill techniques—jamming, disrupting communications, and physically destroying drones—prioritizing areas with civilian presence to prevent collateral damage.
The PAF’s successful operations are being hailed as a strategic and tactical achievement, further reinforcing Pakistan’s air defense posture during a period of dangerous escalation.
