Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s military said five Indian aircraft had been shot down in the latest armed conflict over Kashmir and other disputed regions along the South Asian neighbours’ border.
India has yet to comment on the claim.
Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign minister, separately told parliament that it was J-10C jets that shot down the Indian warplanes, with the five including three Rafale fighter jets.
“Our jet fighters … shot down Indian Rafales, three Rafales [that] are French,” said Dar. “Ours were J-10C. All of these are jet fighters in collaboration with China.”
If confirmed, it would be the Chinese fighter jet’s first known air-to-air kill recorded in live combat. It would also mark the first loss of Rafale aircraft in combat.
