Hamid Mir Criticizes India’s Ban on Journalists Over Fighter Jet Incident as Trump Confirms Attack on 5 Aircraft
Senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir has criticized India’s government for imposing a ban on him and several other journalists after they reported that Pakistan’s Air Force had downed five Indian fighter jets in May 2025. According to Mir, the Indian government labeled these reports as “fake news.”
Mir’s remarks were posted on X (formerly Twitter), where he questioned whether Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would extend the same restrictions to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently confirmed the downing of multiple aircraft during the recent tensions between India and Pakistan.
Mir’s statement came after a report from Reuters in which Trump, speaking during a dinner with Republican lawmakers at the White House, acknowledged that “four or five aircraft were shot down in the recent India-Pakistan clashes.” Trump, however, did not specify which country the planes belonged to but further remarked that the situation had de-escalated after the skirmish.
Mir, in his social media post, pointed out the contradiction between India’s claims of fake news and the confirmation of the incident by a prominent world leader like Trump. “Now that Trump himself has confirmed the news, will Modi have the courage to impose a ban on him as well?” Mir questioned.
The incident has sparked a debate on media freedom, with critics highlighting the increasing tendency of governments to restrict journalists who report news unfavorable to their narratives. It also raises concerns over the international double standards regarding freedom of the press and the accuracy of conflict-related news reports.
### **Background:**
The downing of the fighter jets took place amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, which had led to a series of military confrontations. While Indian authorities initially denied the claims, Trump’s recent remarks seem to provide credence to the reports initially circulated by Pakistani media.
