U.S. President Donald Trump has said he believes as many as five fighter jets were shot down during the recent hostilities between India and Pakistan, following an Islamist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April. Trump made the remarks at a dinner with Republican lawmakers at the White House but did not specify whether the downed jets belonged to India or Pakistan.

Trump stated, “Five, five, four or five, but I think five jets were shot down actually,” while referencing the military exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Conflicting Claims from India and Pakistan

Pakistan previously claimed to have downed five Indian aircraft in air-to-air combat during the clashes. India admitted to losing aircraft early in the fighting but said it changed tactics and gained the upper hand before a ceasefire took effect three days later. India also claimed it shot down Pakistani planes, though Islamabad denied any losses of aircraft but confirmed damage to its air bases.

The April attack in Kashmir killed 26 and triggered heavy exchanges of fire between India and Pakistan involving fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery, causing dozens of casualties on both sides. Indian jets bombed sites it identified as militant infrastructure across the border on May 7, escalating the conflict until the ceasefire on May 10.

Ceasefire Disputed by India

Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for brokering the May ceasefire through U.S. diplomatic pressure. However, India has publicly disputed these assertions, insisting that New Delhi and Islamabad resolved the issue directly and without outside mediation. India maintains that its disputes with Pakistan must be handled bilaterally.