How Pakistan shot down five Indian jets and what’s Pampore debris mystery?

640

Tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated following a dramatic series of military developments. According to Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, five Indian fighter jets were shot down by the Pakistani military in response to overnight airstrikes conducted by India across six locations, including Sialkot, Bahawalpur, and parts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. 

Speaking to Bloomberg TV, Minister Asif confirmed that Pakistan had also destroyed multiple Indian UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and checkposts along the Line of Control (LoC). 

Key Points of Pakistan’s Military Claim 

• Five Indian fighter jets shot down 

• 3 Rafale jets 

• 1 Sukhoi Su-30 

• 1 MiG-29 

• Drones and quadcopters also downed 

• Indian military posts hit along LoC 

• Pakistan denies any loss to its own Air Force 

How Indian Jets Got Targeted by Pakistan 

• Tracked During Late-Night Strikes 

As Indian jets launched surprise strikes near Sialkot, Bahawalpur, and Azad Kashmir, Pakistan’s radar and surveillance systems were already on high alert, tracking unusual movements along the border. 

• Targeted Through Pre-set Air Defense Zones 

Pakistan’s military likely activated automated and manual air defense systems, including surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery, which are pre-positioned to intercept enemy jets entering sensitive zones like the Line of Control. 

• Electronic Warfare & Signal Jamming 

Experts suggest that electronic warfare tools may have played a role — jamming Indian aircraft navigation or communication systems, causing confusion or even mechanical failure. 

• Real-Time Visual & Drone Surveillance 

With help from spotting drones and night-vision surveillance, Pakistani forces may have visually confirmed enemy aircraft in restricted airspace before launching counterattacks. 

Read more: Pakistan’s JF-17 Block III fitted with Chinese long-range PL-15 missiles for first time

• Familiar Flight Patterns 

Indian planes may have followed known or previously used flight paths, making it easier for Pakistani defense systems to predict and intercept their movement. 

• Tit-for-Tat Preparedness 

After the history of skirmishes like the 2019 Balakot incident, Pakistan was likely well-prepared with quick-response units, ready to retaliate if Indian jets crossed a red line — which seems to have happened. 

Indian Aircraft Debris Found in Pulwama’s Pampore 

Meanwhile, on the Indian side, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has confirmed that teams have been dispatched to Pulwama’s Pampore area in Indian-administered Kashmir to collect aircraft debris. This came after residents reported a loud explosion followed by aircraft fragments falling across town. 

According to a BBC report, bulldozers are clearing the wreckage under tight security. An additional IAF unit has been deployed to investigate the type of aircraft and the cause of the crash, though officials have yet to confirm whether the aircraft was Indian or Pakistani. 

Eyewitness Accounts from Pampore 

BBC’s Riaz Masroor, reporting from the crash site, shared that locals heard: 

• A massive explosion around midnight 

• Jet bomber noises prior to the blast 

• Shattered parts of an aircraft raining down on residential areas 

One resident told BBC, 

“It felt like the earth shook. Everyone rushed outside. Then we saw smoke and debris in the sky.” 

Is There a Link Between the Jets Pakistan Claims and Pampore Crash? 

As of now: 

• The types of jets shot down by Pakistan (Rafale, Su-30, MiG-29) are consistent with the aircraft operated by the IAF. 

• The IAF team’s arrival at Pampore suggests the debris may belong to one of the jets Pakistan claims to have shot down. 

• However, India has not acknowledged the loss of five aircraft, and no independent confirmation of each shootdown has been released. 

• Indian media is largely silent or downplaying the situation, while Pakistan maintains that its air defenses responded lawfully. 

Conclusion: A Dangerous Silence Amid Rising Tensions 

This situation remains highly fluid. With aircraft debris in Pampore, claims of multiple shootdowns, and military operations on both sides, the potential for escalation remains dangerously high. Until independent verification occurs, the true extent of losses remains uncertain — but the tensions between two nuclear neighbors are clearly intensifying.