CNN Anchor Grills Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif Over ‘Social Media’ Claim on Downing Indian Jets During Operation Sindoor
New Delhi, May 8, 2025 — In a CNN interview that has since gone viral, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif faced sharp questioning and widespread ridicule after he claimed that Pakistan’s alleged downing of five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets during Operation Sindoor was “all over social media.” The lack of concrete evidence and the bizarre defense offered by the minister have made him the subject of intense trolling and criticism online.
During the interview with CNN anchor Becky Anderson, Asif was asked to provide proof of Pakistan’s claim that five Indian jets, including Rafales, were shot down. Instead of presenting official data or satellite images, Asif responded:
“It’s all over social media. On Indian social media, not on our social media. The debris of these jets fell… and it’s all over Indian media.”
The anchor promptly interrupted, stating, “You’re the defence minister, sir. The reason to talk to you today, sir, is not to talk about content all over social media. I’m sorry.”
Online Backlash and Global Embarrassment
The clip of the exchange has amassed nearly half a million views on X (formerly Twitter), with netizens across the globe mocking the Pakistani minister. Comments ranged from disbelief to derision.
One user posted, “He basically said, trust me bro,” while another added, “This is the defence minister’s statement? Pakistan is not a serious country.” Another quipped, “A day without international embarrassment is a day wasted for Pakistan.”
Watch the CNN Interview Here:
Pak Defence Minister- We shot down 5 Indian Air Force jets
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) May 7, 2025
CNN- Can you provide any detail
Pak Defence Minister- It's all over Social Media
Pakistan's defence minister gives statement based on Social Media fake posts? pic.twitter.com/eQIgozqghq
PIB Fact-Check Debunks Claims
Following Asif’s comments, India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-check unit clarified that the viral image being used to support the Pakistani narrative was actually from a 2021 crash and had no connection to the current conflict. Pakistani social media handles had tried to pass it off as a downed Indian Rafale jet.
The Context: Operation Sindoor
India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. The operation involved precision air strikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), reportedly eliminating 80-90 terrorists.
The Indian government emphasized that military installations were not targeted and that great care was taken to avoid civilian casualties. Despite this, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labeled the strikes as an “act of war,” alleging civilian deaths — a claim denied by Indian authorities.
Contradictory Statements Within Pakistan
Interestingly, another Pakistani official, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), stated that two Indian aircraft were shot down near Bhatinda and Akhnoor. However, no verifiable evidence was presented, and the Indian Air Force has refuted any such loss.
Conclusion
As tensions rise between the two nations following Operation Sindoor, Khawaja Asif’s reliance on social media as “proof” has only weakened Pakistan’s narrative on the global stage. With international scrutiny increasing, experts suggest that verifiable evidence, not viral posts, is what lends credibility in matters of national defense.
