# Pakistan Claims Downed Indian Jets and Gauges Toll of India’s Strikes
**Background**
In a recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan claimed to have shot down two Indian fighter jets and captured a pilot. This incident comes on the heels of India’s airstrike on what it says was a terrorist training camp in Pakistani territory. The two nuclear-armed neighbors have a long history of conflict over the disputed region of Kashmir, but this latest exchange of hostilities has raised fears of a full-blown war between the two countries.
According to an April 2025 report by the UN, the Kashmir region has been a flashpoint for conflict between India and Pakistan for decades, with both countries claiming it as their own. The region has seen numerous skirmishes and wars between the two countries, with the most recent being in 2019 when India conducted airstrikes in Pakistani territory in response to a terrorist attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
**Recent Developments**
The recent escalation began when India conducted airstrikes on what it says was a terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan. India claimed that the airstrikes were in response to a suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed over 40 Indian soldiers. Pakistan, however, denied that the camp was a terrorist training facility and accused India of violating its sovereignty.
In response to the Indian airstrikes, Pakistan claimed to have shot down two Indian fighter jets and captured a pilot. The pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was shown in a video released by Pakistan, where he was seen being interrogated by Pakistani officials. The capture of the pilot has raised tensions between the two countries even further, with both sides exchanging threats of retaliation.
**Reactions**
The international community has called for restraint and de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan. The United Nations has urged both countries to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any actions that could lead to further escalation of the conflict. The United States, China, and other major powers have also called for dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve their differences peacefully.
Experts believe that the recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan could have serious consequences for regional stability. The two countries possess nuclear weapons, and any miscalculation or misstep could lead to a catastrophic war with devastating consequences for both countries and the region as a whole.
**What Comes Next**
The question now, analysts say, is whether the two sides will claim victory as Pakistan asserts that it downed Indian jets and gauges the toll of India’s strikes. The capture of the Indian pilot has added a new dimension to the conflict, with both countries under pressure to de-escalate and avoid further confrontation.
As the world watches with bated breath, the fate of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman remains uncertain. Will India and Pakistan be able to find a way to resolve their differences peacefully, or will the conflict escalate into a full-blown war with catastrophic consequences? Only time will tell.