In a significant escalation of hostilities, Pakistan's Chinese-made J-10 fighter jets downed at least two Indian military aircraft, including a French-made Rafale, during fierce aerial clashes on Wednesday, US officials confirmed to Reuters.
Pakistan claims that five Indian aircraft were shot down in total, though India has not officially acknowledged any losses. Instead, India maintains it targeted “terrorist infrastructure” inside Pakistan as part of its military operations.
The incident has attracted the attention of global defense analysts, particularly for its implications regarding the performance of Chinese military technology in real combat situations.
The conflict, which has now entered its second day, has seen continued drone and missile attacks across the border, with both nations reporting interceptions and counterstrikes. World powers have expressed growing concerns and urged restraint, fearing that the violence could spiral into a wider regional conflict.