Lahore, August 17, 2025: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday claimed that Pakistan possesses video footage of six Indian aircraft shot down during a brief but intense military confrontation between the two countries in May.
The clash erupted after New Delhi, without presenting evidence, blamed Islamabad for the Pahalgam attack, a charge Pakistan strongly rejected. According to Pakistani officials, six Indian planes, including French-made Dassault Rafale jets, were downed during the conflict. While India’s top military commander admitted that losses were suffered, he denied the number was as high as six.
Speaking at a seminar in Lahore, Naqvi said he had been directly involved in matters surrounding the confrontation and was privy to sensitive information.
“When Indian planes were downed, we decided not to announce it without evidence,” he said. “We had radar data, but within minutes we also received video footage of all six planes. We have this footage.”
The minister praised Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, saying they had advance knowledge of India’s plans. “We knew what they were planning and which aircraft they would use. Our agencies’ role was crucial, though often unseen,” he added.
Naqvi also revealed that Indian forces launched seven missiles at a Pakistani air base, but none hit their intended target. “Some fell short, some landed outside the base. Not a single missile struck the base itself,” he said, without identifying the facility.
He confirmed that Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi was also targeted but suffered no damage. However, one other base sustained damage, resulting in the martyrdom of a Pakistan Air Force member.
The interior minister added that Pakistan’s retaliatory missile strikes targeted Indian military installations near populated areas. “We destroyed one of their biggest oil depots, but we made every effort to avoid civilian casualties. That’s when we knew God was with us,” he said.
The confrontation escalated on the night of May 6–7, when Indian air strikes killed at least 40 Pakistani civilians. Both sides then exchanged missiles over several days until a US-brokered ceasefire halted the hostilities.
In July, US President Donald Trump told Republican lawmakers at a White House dinner that five jets had been downed in the conflict, though he did not specify which side’s aircraft they were.
On May 12, PAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed said the Air Force’s response was executed “at the time and place of own choosing,” showcasing “bold, aggressive and unwavering resolve.”
Last month, Chinese Air Force chief Lieutenant General Wang Gang also praised the Pakistan Air Force, calling its handling of the clash “exemplary” and commending the “decisive and measured response delivered under resolute leadership.”
