London — Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, firmly countered Sky News anchor Yalda Hakim during a recent interview in which she appeared to echo the Indian narrative on the downing of Indian Rafale jets.
Dr. Faisal responded calmly yet assertively, urging the journalist to maintain neutrality and backing his statements with international reporting. “I hope you’ve reviewed the CNN coverage,” he said. “They quoted a senior French intelligence official who confirmed the destruction of more than one Indian aircraft. CNN is a reputable outlet—I rarely question their reporting.”
The diplomatic exchange revolved around a recent aerial confrontation in which Chinese-made Pakistani J-10 jets reportedly engaged and downed multiple Indian Rafale fighters. The incident has garnered global interest, with defense analysts scrutinizing the performance of modern combat systems and the implications for South Asian airpower dynamics.
Adding weight to Pakistan’s account, two U.S. officials cited by Reuters also confirmed that at least two Indian aircraft were shot down during the skirmish—a development seen as a major moment for China’s defense exports and a potential recalibration of regional military balances.
