A US congressional panel has acknowledged Pakistan’s victory over India in the four-day conflict in May last during which Islamabad shot down seven Indian warplanes including three Rafale aircraft, it was reported on Wednesday.
The bipartisan US-China Economic and Security Review Commission said in its annual report that Pakistan shot down seven Indian fighter jets during the clashes. It credited Chinese weapons for playing a key role in Pakistan’s success. French-made Rafale jets were reportedly downed with the help of Chinese arms.
Following the conflict, Indonesia cancelled its Rafale procurement plans, and the global reputation of the aircraft was affected.
The clashes began after an attack on tourists in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery. The conflict marked the worst escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals in over 25 years. A tense truce followed after US President Donald Trump mediated a ceasefire.
The report highlighted the debut of modern Chinese systems, including the HQ-9 surface-to-air missile, PL-15 air-to-air missile, and J-10C fighter aircraft. It noted that China used the conflict to test and showcase its weapons amid ongoing border tensions with India and its expanding defence industry goals.
Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump had claimed it again that he single-handedly prevented a major war between Pakistan and India that was on the verge of reigniting. Trump made these comments during a conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, as reported by international media.
While reflecting on his foreign policy achievements, President Trump stated he was “proud of having stopped eight major wars in the world.” He specifically cited his intervention in the long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan. “I stopped the war between Pakistan and India, and I also stopped the war between Pakistan and India that was about to start again,” he asserted.
Explaining his diplomatic approach, Trump indicated that he leveraged trade as a foundational element for conflict resolution. He expressed satisfaction that both nations are now “taking good steps” towards stability.
