A senior French intelligence official connfirmed today that a Rafale fighter jet belonging to the Indian Air Force was shot down by Pakistan, marking the first instance of one of these advanced French-made aircraft being lost in combat.
Earlier, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian Air Force jets in retaliation for Indian strikes, including three Rafales. Indian officials have yet to respond to this assertion.
The French official indicated to CNN that authorities in France are investigating the possibility that more than one Rafale jet was downed by Pakistan overnight. Images of debris from an aircraft that crashed in Indian-administered Kashmir display a label from a French manufacturer; however, experts noted that it is not possible to confirm if the part originated from a Rafale jet.
The Rafale is a 10-ton, twin-engine multirole fighter, armed with a 30mm cannon for aerial combat and ground support, as well as air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, and cruise missiles. Prior to this recent escalation, India had acquired 36 Rafale jets for its Air Force from Dassault Aviation. The French military has not made any official statements regarding the incident.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan commended the nation’s air force after military reports indicated the downing of five Indian fighter jets. He acknowledged the military’s preparedness to confront enemy aircraft during his address to parliament in Islamabad, marking his first appearance since India’s recent attack.
Sharif informed lawmakers that India deployed numerous warplanes in its offensive, which resulted in the deaths of at least 26 individuals, including a 3-year-old girl, and injured at least 46 others, as reported by a Pakistani military official.
While he refrained from detailing Pakistan’s potential response to what he termed an ‘act of war,’ his office indicated that the military had been granted the authority to take appropriate actions. ‘Recently, India showcased its acquisition of Rafale jets with great pride. However, such pride may be misplaced,’ Sharif remarked to the parliament. ‘These jets were deployed in combat, yet our air force was equally ready.’
He stated that the Pakistan Air Force had utterly destroyed the Indian aircraft, emphasizing that Pakistan would seek retribution for the lives lost due to India’s attacks. ‘During an hour-long aerial confrontation, our pilots obliterated the enemy’s jets,’ he declared in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday night.
He further remarked, ‘It took only a few hours for the adversary to be brought to its knees.’ The prime minister highlighted that Pakistan has been significantly affected by terrorism in the region, enduring the loss of tens of thousands of lives and incurring substantial financial damages in the ongoing battle against it over the years.
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