US Refuses to Confirm Pakistan’s F-16 Loss in Operation Sindoor with India

It was one of the most intense aerial encounters in recent years. Between May 7 and 10, during “Operation Sindoor,” the skies over South Asia turned into a fierce battleground.

Reports claimed that India’s Air Force had taken down multiple Pakistani aircraft — including the crown jewel of Pakistan’s fleet, the American-made F-16. But when the question reached Washington, the response from the United States was… intriguing.

The US Reaction
When asked by NDTV whether Pakistan had indeed lost an F-16 during the operation, the administration of then-President Donald Trump avoided giving a direct answer.
Instead, the US State Department replied: “We refer you to the Government of Pakistan to discuss its F-16s.”

This is notable because the US has a close watch over every F-16 in Pakistan’s inventory, thanks to its Technical Support Teams (TSTs) that track maintenance and operational status. Yet, despite this oversight, Washington declined to confirm or deny the loss.

Feature: The Pride of Pakistan’s Air Force – The F-16
The F-16 Fighting Falcon has been the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) since the early 1980s. Fast, agile, and capable of delivering precision strikes, it remains one of the most respected fighter jets in South Asia.

Pakistan uses it for both air superiority and ground attack roles, often upgrading its systems with US-approved modifications. Its presence in the PAF is not just about combat — it’s also about prestige and deterrence. Which is why any claim of an F-16 being shot down becomes a matter of national pride and political sensitivity.

What India Says
In the days following Operation Sindoor, Indian Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh made a rare and bold statement. He confirmed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had destroyed “at least” five Pakistani fighter jets and “one large aircraft” during the operation. This was the first time an Indian official had given an exact figure.

India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, also acknowledged that the IAF suffered some aircraft losses but insisted that all mission objectives were met. Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General Air Operations, reassured the public that every IAF pilot returned home safely — a key measure of success in any air campaign.

What Pakistan Says
Islamabad flatly rejected India’s version of events. Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, challenged India to “open its aircraft inventories to independent verification,” claiming that such an audit would expose “the reality India seeks to obscure.” Pakistan also alleged that it had downed IAF jets during the clashes — claims India has not acknowledged.

The Silence Continues
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the US has sidestepped the F-16 question. In response to an earlier Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by NDTV, the US Department of Defence stated:

“The FOIA does not require agencies to compile information, conduct research, answer questions, or create new documents in response to FOIA requests.”

Subsequent questions to the Pentagon and the Office of the US Secretary of Defence also went unanswered.

Conclusion
So, did India really shoot down a Pakistani F-16 during Operation Sindoor? Officially, the US won’t say, Pakistan denies it, and India insists it happened. Until one side agrees to open its records for independent verification, the truth will remain as elusive as the jets that roared through the skies that week.

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