India, July 19 -- US President Donald Trump claimed five fighter jets were shot down during the India-Pakistan military clashes that took place in May.

"We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious - India and Pakistan, that was going on. Planes were being shot out of there. I think five jets were shot down, actually. These are two serious nuclear countries, and they were hitting each other," said Trump on Friday speaking at a gathering of top Republican party lawmakers.

Trump's remark comes amid a simmering controversy over the exact fighter jet losses suffered by the Indian Air Force in May. To be sure, New Delhi has not officially acknowledged the number of aircraft lost during hostilities with Pakistan.

However, senior official...