ISLAMABAD/PARIS: A high ranking French intelligence official has confirmed that a Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force was shot down by Pakistan during a retaliatory military exchange on Wednesday, marking the first known combat loss of the French-made warplane.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down five Indian fighter jets on Wednesday in a retaliatory response to Indian air strikes carried out overnight, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed. Among the aircraft targeted were three Rafale jets.
Speaking to CNN, the French official said Paris is verifying reports that more Rafale jets may have been hit, but confirmed that at least one had been downed by Pakistan.
Pictures circulating on social media from the crash site in Indian-administered Kashmir showed aircraft debris with markings from a French manufacturer.
However, aviation experts cited by CNN said that it remains unclear if the parts belonged to a Rafale jet. French aerospace company Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale jets, has not commented publicly on the incident.
Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India reached a dangerous peak on Wednesday as Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets in response to overnight air strikes carried out by India inside Pakistani territory.
Among the aircraft downed were three French-made Rafale jets, according to Pakistani officials.
The French intelligence official told CNN that one Rafale fighter jet operated by India was brought down by Pakistan in what would mark the first known combat loss of the advanced multirole aircraft.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated on Wednesday that five Indian aircraft were shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in a measured retaliation to what he described as an “unprovoked and reckless” Indian attack across the Line of Control (LoC) the night before.
“This is a clear message that Pakistan retains the right to self-defence and will not tolerate aggression,” Asif told reporters in Islamabad.
He added that the jets included a combination of Rafales and Su-30s. India has yet to issue an official response to Pakistan’s claims.
The military escalation has led to significant ripples in global financial markets. Dassault Aviation’s shares fell sharply on Wednesday following reports of the loss of three Rafale jets.
Meanwhile, the Shenzhen-listed Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC)—which manufactures the JF-17 Thunder and J-10 fighters used by the Pakistan Air Force—saw its stock surge by over 17 percent during trading hours.
The Rafale is a twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft equipped with air-to-air missiles, precision-guided bombs, and a 30mm cannon.
India acquired 36 of these aircraft from France in a €7.8 billion deal finalised in 2016, aimed at modernising its ageing fleet.
The recent flare-up began with Indian air strikes inside Pakistani territory late Tuesday night. The move triggered immediate international concern, with the United Nations, United States, China, and the European Union calling for restraint and urging both sides to de-escalate.
