Prof Cheng Xizhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute, has strongly rejected recent Indian air chief claims regarding Operation Sindoor. He said the statement by Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh about downing five Pakistani fighter jets and a large aircraft in early May is baseless and laughable.
Prof Cheng said any military claim must be backed by solid proof. However, the Indian side has failed to produce even basic evidence such as wreckage photographs or radar tracking records. In contrast, Pakistan has previously provided extensive technical proof of shooting down Indian fighter jets.
He described the Indian air chief claims as “self-amusement,” lacking credibility and appearing comical to the international community. He pointed out that more than three months have passed since the clash between the two countries. Yet, India has still not presented any verifiable data to support its version.
On the other hand, Pakistan immediately shared a comprehensive technical report with the world’s media after the incident. This was backed by confirmations from global leaders, senior Indian politicians, and foreign intelligence assessments. These independent assessments indicated that India had suffered major losses, including multiple aircraft.
Prof Cheng stressed that no Pakistani fighter jet was hit or destroyed, making the Indian air chief claims entirely false. He said the facts show that Pakistan shot down six Indian jets and destroyed S-400 air defence positions during the conflict. These achievements, he added, are undeniable and have been acknowledged internationally.
The senior analyst concluded that the Indian air chief claims have failed to stand up to scrutiny, while Pakistan’s documented evidence continues to be recognised as authentic.