Chinese Expert Rejects India’s Claim of Pakistani Jet Losses

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Professor Cheng Xizhong, a senior research fellow at China’s Charhar Institute, publicly challenged the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh’s claim that India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one large aircraft during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Cheng described these assertions as lacking credible evidence and urged for proper verification.

Cheng noted that India has not provided supporting documentation such as photographs of wreckage, radar tracking data, or independent verification to substantiate the claims made by Chief Marshal Singh during a public event in Bengaluru. He contrasted this with Pakistan’s release of detailed technical reports shortly after the conflict, highlighting a delay of nearly three months before India presented its version of events.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also disputed India’s claims, stating that Pakistan did not lose any aircraft during the conflict. Asif further asserted that Pakistan’s Air Force successfully downed six Indian jets, including three Rafale fighters, and neutralized Indian S-400 air defense systems. Some international reports have corroborated the loss of at least one Indian Rafale aircraft during the operation, marking a rare combat loss for the French-made fighter jets.

The aerial engagements occurred during Operation Sindoor, which was launched following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, earlier in May 2025. In response to the attack, India conducted missile strikes on targets within Pakistan. Subsequently, the Pakistan Air Force conducted retaliatory air operations.

Pakistan shared technical details and reports with international media soon after the conflict, aiming to provide evidence of its claims regarding the downing of Indian aircraft and lack of losses on its side. India’s official narrative, however, was released after a considerable delay and has not been independently verified through publicly available data.

The conflicting claims highlight the ongoing rivalry and differing accounts between India and Pakistan over military engagements. Both countries have maintained their respective positions on the outcome of the aerial confrontations during Operation Sindoor.