Tensions soar as Pakistan, India clash in deadly cross-border air conflict

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down five Indian fighter jets in a swift retaliatory strike late Tuesday after Indian forces launched missile attacks on multiple Pakistani cities, killing at least 26 civilians.

Kamran Khan, in his vlog, said the Indian military fired missiles from within its airspace targeting civilian areas in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. According to Khan, India conducted 24 strikes across six civilian locations, injuring another 46 people.

In response, the Pakistan Air Force launched what Khan described as a “devastating counterattack” within an hour—without crossing international borders.

"Pakistan’s jets did not violate Indian airspace," Khan said, citing military sources. "But they delivered a crushing response by downing five high-value Indian aircraft."

The PAF reportedly destroyed three Rafale jets, one Sukhoi Su-30, and one MiG-29. These were shot down over areas including Akhnoor, Jammu, Barnala, and Ambala, all inside Indian territory, Khan said.

According to the military’s media wing ISPR, no Pakistani jets were lost in the exchange. ISPR also confirmed that an Indian quadcopter and a combat drone were destroyed.

Khan added that Pakistani fighter pilots also struck Indian military installations in Indian-administered Kashmir, including a brigade headquarters, a battalion HQ, and several outposts.

Despite India’s numerical advantage, Khan said Pakistan’s air force outperformed its larger neighbor in both strategy and technology.

India operates 31 fighter squadrons compared to Pakistan’s 11, he noted, with Indian forces fielding 513 fighter jets and 130 bombers. Pakistan, by contrast, has 328 fighters and 90 bombers.

Yet, Khan emphasized the superior combat capability of Pakistan’s U.S.-made F-16s and the JF-17 Thunder, a joint production with China, which outmatched India’s Rafale, Mirage, and Russian-made aircraft.

“Once again, Pakistan Air Force proved that combat skill outweighs numbers,” Khan said.

He likened the operation’s effectiveness to the legacy of M.M. Alam, Pakistan’s 1965 war hero, who famously shot down five Indian jets in under a minute.

Khan concluded by referencing the heavy cost India paid for its so-called “Operation Sindoor,” warning that the global community had now witnessed Pakistan’s restraint and strength.