Pakistan gains upper hand in escalating tensions with India

Kamran Khan said that Pakistan’s military claims are being validated globally, as major international news outlets confirm that five Indian fighter jets were shot down during a recent exchange along the border. The developments, he added, have left India economically and diplomatically shaken.

In his latest vlog, Khan cited coverage from outlets including The Washington Post, CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, and France’s Le Monde, which he said support Pakistan’s assertion that Indian Rafale jets were destroyed in the first hour of India’s failed offensive.

“This has been an extremely troubling 24 hours for India,” Khan said. “The evidence from global media, and even France where the Rafale jets are manufactured, confirms that Pakistan's claim was accurate.”

Khan described the losses as a major embarrassment for New Delhi, noting that fallout was already visible in economic indicators. He said India’s stock market had seen sharp declines and the Indian rupee dropped more than 1.5% against the dollar. The Indian Premier League (IPL), one of the country's most lucrative sporting events, has been suspended amid the crisis.

India has reportedly shut down 25 airports as precautionary measures, and multiple cities — including New Delhi — are facing growing anxiety, Khan said, citing international news coverage.

On the Pakistani side, the situation appears more controlled, according to Khan. He said India’s drone attacks had been met with a “strong and coordinated” response. Pakistan claims to have shot down at least 70 Indian drones without deploying its air force, which had already responded earlier by downing five Indian jets.

“This is significant — not just from a military standpoint, but also diplomatically,” Khan said.

He added that the global community is now moving quickly to cool tensions. The U.S. Secretary of State is in direct contact with both Indian and Pakistani leadership, and Saudi Arabia is emerging as a key intermediary.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who was in India earlier this week, arrived in Islamabad on Friday. He is reportedly coordinating with other global powers to mediate the crisis and help develop a framework for de-escalation.

“The Saudis are now playing a crucial role in stabilizing the region,” Khan said. “There is an effort underway to create a model to control the situation.”

Back home, Pakistan is seeing signs of economic resilience, Khan reported. He noted a recovery in the Pakistan Stock Exchange following the previous day’s plunge. A renewed sense of confidence is returning to the markets, in part due to an important development on the economic front.

Khan said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is holding an executive board meeting on Friday, where a decision is expected on releasing the next tranche of Pakistan’s bailout package. Despite reported Indian attempts to obstruct the funding, Khan expressed optimism.

“All indications suggest that Pakistan will receive this tranche,” he said.

Khan emphasized that the situation remains fluid, but said Pakistan’s posture has grown stronger in the eyes of the world.

“India has suffered military losses, economic setbacks, and diplomatic embarrassment,” he said. “Meanwhile, Pakistan is managing the crisis with control and growing international support.”