Trump Claims Five Planes Downed in India-Pakistan Conflict, Congress Demands Modi’s Response
Washington/New Delhi: On Friday, July 18, 2025, US President Donald Trump made a startling claim during a dinner with Republican members of Congress at the White House, stating that five planes were shot down during the May 2025 military conflict between India and Pakistan. He did not specify whether these were Indian or Pakistani planes or a combined total. Trump remarked, “India and Pakistan were in a conflict, planes were being shot out of the sky. Four or five, but I think five planes were downed. These are two nuclear powers, and they were attacking each other.” He further claimed that his administration halted the conflict through trade pressure.
This statement has sparked significant political controversy in India. The opposition Congress party has demanded clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted on X, “Modi ji, what is the truth about the five planes? The nation has a right to know!” Sharing a video of Trump’s remarks, he accused Modi’s silence of compromising national interests. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh noted that Trump has repeated this claim 24 times in 70 days, asserting he stopped the India-Pakistan conflict, and called Modi’s silence “alarming.” He demanded that Modi address Parliament with a clear statement.
Pakistan had claimed during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 that it shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets. However, India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, dismissed these claims, stating that reports of Rafale losses were “completely false.” He acknowledged some losses but emphasized that the reasons, not the numbers, were significant. Chauhan added that India recalibrated its strategy and conducted precise strikes on Pakistani airbases. The CEO of Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of Rafale jets, also refuted Pakistan’s claims.
India has consistently maintained that the ceasefire agreement on May 10, 2025, was finalized through direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations, not through US mediation. Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri clarified that Modi, in a 35-minute phone call with Trump, reiterated that India would never accept third-party mediation.
In the same White House dinner, Trump announced that 10 more Israeli hostages would soon be released from Gaza. Praising his special envoy Steve Witkoff’s efforts, he said, “We’ve recovered most of the hostages, and 10 more will be brought back soon. We hope this process will be completed quickly.” This statement comes amid ongoing negotiations in Doha since July 6, 2025, between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, discussing a proposed 60-day ceasefire.
A Palestinian source told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that Israel has not responded clearly to mediators’ proposals, including maps related to Gaza and humanitarian aid plans. The source noted that, as of Friday, negotiations on hostage exchanges had not yet begun. They further claimed that Israel’s stance on humanitarian aid remains ambiguous, and the Israeli delegation in Doha is merely symbolic. The source rejected assertions that Hamas is delaying talks, stating that Israel’s delayed responses are the real issue. Hamas has argued that the Israeli military’s failure to free hostages by force proves that negotiations based on resistance terms are the only path forward.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster, Tel Aviv is considering sending a second delegation of senior officials to Doha to advance the hostage talks, though details of the delegation’s mandate or the proposals under discussion remain undisclosed. On June 21, 2025, Israeli volunteers and hostages’ families protested outside the Likud party headquarters, demanding the release of hostages amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, adding further urgency to the issue.
Both the India-Pakistan conflict claims and the Gaza hostage negotiations highlight the complexities of regional tensions and global diplomatic efforts. In India, political circles continue to debate Trump’s claims, while the Doha talks remain critical for progress on the hostage issue. The international community is closely monitoring these developments, which have significant implications for regional stability and peace.
