Pakistan, Aug. 10 -- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday strongly rejected claims by the Indian Air Force chief that India had shot down six Pakistani fighter jets during a conflict in May, calling the assertions "implausible" and "ill-timed."

"The belated assertions made by the Indian Air Force Chief regarding alleged destruction of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor are as implausible as they are ill-timed," Asif said in a statement.

The statement by the defence czar was followed by remarks from India's air force chief, who claimed on Saturday that India had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and another military aircraft during clashes in May, in the first such public claim by the country after its worst military co...