Tensions between India and Pakistan have resurfaced following a sharp rebuke from Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif. Asif vehemently rejected recent claims made by the Indian Air Force chief regarding the outcome of the 2019 Operation Sindoor.

The Indian Air Force chief’s assertion that India successfully shot down multiple Pakistani fighter jets and a large aircraft during the operation has been labeled by Asif as an “implausible, ill-timed, and politically motivated” statement. Asif went further, describing the claim as a “dangerous distortion” of events, suggesting it is intended to bolster domestic political support in India.

This strong condemnation highlights the ongoing sensitivities surrounding the 2019 air skirmishes and underscores the deep-seated mistrust between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The differing accounts of what transpired during Operation Sindoor continue to fuel the already volatile relationship between India and Pakistan.