Pakistan says Five Indian Fighter Jets Shot Down; India Confirms Downing Three
Tawazon – The Pakistani government has announced that it has shot down five Indian fighter jets, while India has confirmed the downing of three of its aircraft, with the fate of a fourth plane still unknown.
According to the Indian media outlet The Hind, one of the planes was downed in the village of Akalian Kalan in the state of Punjab.
This comes after India carried out airstrikes on several areas in Pakistan on Tuesday night (May 2). According to the Indian government, the targets of the operation were armed militants.
However, Pakistani officials report that civilians were also harmed, and several mosques in Punjab were destroyed.
Turkey and China have reacted to the attack.
The Turkish ambassador to Pakistan met with Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, and described the Indian strike as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
The spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated:
“China finds India’s military action regrettable. We are concerned about the current situation. We urge both parties to act in the interest of overall peace and stability, to remain calm, show restraint, and refrain from actions that could further complicate the situation.”
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, in a statement released on Tuesday (May 6), called for military restraint from both countries.
The statement reads:
“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about India’s military operations across the Line of Control and the international border. He urges maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.”
Tensions between the two countries have reached their peak following the attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir.
