A heated debate has erupted over recent Indian airstrike claims, with a prominent US defence analyst calling them baseless. Dr. C Christine Fair, a well-known American expert on South Asian military affairs, strongly refuted India’s assertion that it downed several Pakistani fighter jets and disabled 20% of Pakistan’s air force.
“No Evidence at All”
In an interview on The Wire with journalist Karan Thapar, Dr. Fair dismissed Indian Air Force (IAF) Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal Bharti’s statements. According to Bharti, Indian forces had inflicted significant damage on multiple Pakistani airbases including Sargodha, Jacobabad, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bholari.
Fair responded sharply: “There is certainly no evidence. I am astonished by the claim that 20% of Pakistan’s air force has been rendered unusable. I’ve never heard that before. It’s quite an astonishing claim—and most certainly false.”
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Satellite Images Questioned
Karan Thapar cited so-called satellite imagery shared by Indian sources that supposedly depicted extensive damage to Pakistani installations. However, Dr. Fair countered these claims, saying no credible satellite data has surfaced to support such assertions.
“There’s no proof that these airbases suffered any serious damage,” she stressed.
Sharp Rebuttal to Shot-Down Jets Claim
When asked directly about Air Marshal Bharti’s claim that India shot down an unspecified number of Pakistani aircraft, Fair replied in blunt terms: “Bakwas” — a Hindi-Urdu term meaning nonsense.
Her choice of words and firm tone highlighted her skepticism, despite her history of openly criticizing Pakistan on other matters. This has made her dismissal of Indian claims even more significant for observers on both sides.
Rising Tensions, Conflicting Narratives
The exchange underlines the wider information battle between India and Pakistan following their recent military standoff. While India touts alleged victories, Pakistan has consistently denied suffering any major losses. With no third-party verification available, the war of words continues to shape public perception and diplomatic posturing across the region.
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