Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday claimed Pakistan has video evidence of downing six Indian aircraft during the conflict between the neighboring nations earlier this year.
“When their aircraft were shot down, we decided not to announce the numbers without proof,” he told a seminar, Global Impacts of Pakistan’s Military and Diplomatic Victories over India, in Lahore. Maintaining he was eyewitness to several incidents during the conflict, he particularly highlighted the role of intelligence agencies as pivotal to Pakistan’s victory.
“Whether it was India’s war planning or their aircraft taking off, our agencies had access to every move in advance,” he said, dubbing intelligence officers “silent warriors” in the conflict. “Within minutes, we had field evidence videos of six Indian aircraft that had been downed,” he said, adding this was testament to the capabilities and sacrifices of Pakistan’s intelligence community.
Naqvi described as “divine help” India’s firing of seven missiles on one of Pakistan’s major bases, stressing none had landed on target. “Some fell before reaching, others fell outside or to the side,” he said, adding Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes had hit India’s largest oil storage depot, destroying it. “Except for one base where our soldiers embraced martyrdom, no major loss occurred. This was purely Allah’s help,” he said.
Lauding soldiers and officers of the tri-services, the minister particularly praised the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir for his “great courage and bravery” during the conflict. He recalled that a Saudi delegation had visited Pakistan during the conflict. “The field marshal told them, ‘India is like a shining Mercedes, but we are like a dumper truck loaded with stones. Imagine the result if they collide.’ The delegation remained silent,” he said.
Naqvi said the historic victory was achieved through Pakistan’s first-ever joint war strategy comprising the Army, Air Force, and Navy. By contrast, he claimed, Indian military chiefs were split in their decision-making, hampering their effectiveness. “The world saw the result of that disunity,” he said, blaming Ajit Doval and Amit Shah as the “real architects” of India’s war strategy. “They will bring destruction to India as well as to [Indian P.M. Narendra] Modi in the coming times,” he asserted.
The interior minister also praised Pakistan’s political unity during the crisis, noting all parties had stood firmly with the armed forces. “On the diplomatic front, India tried to lobby in the U.S. but failed, while our PPP chairman outperformed them,” he said, referring to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
During his address, Naqvi reiterated accusations of India sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, particularly Balochistan. “Since 9/11, India has been the biggest beneficiary of terrorism. They tried to convert Kashmiris’ political struggle into a terrorist movement, but failed,” he said, adding Pakistan had been under immense international pressure not to retaliate to India’s attacks. “But both the prime minister and the field marshal deserve credit for resisting that pressure and giving India a fitting response,” he said.