Here's how Pakistani intelligence obtained footage of IAF's downed Rafale

Journalist Asif Bashir Chaudhary has revealed details about how Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency obtained footage of a downed Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighter jet.

During the night of May 6–7, Pakistan reportedly shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, one Su-30, and one MiG-29 Fulcrum, after India launched missiles into Pakistan.

“The Indian security forces immediately cordoned off the area where the Rafale crashed after being shot down, preventing civilians from approaching,” the journalist claimed while speaking on the YouTube channel Talk SHOCK.

According to Chaudhary, after Pakistan’s field intelligence agency operating in India informed the central agency that an Indian spy was in possession of the downed Rafale footage, a plan was devised to obtain it.

As per Chaudhary's account, a Pakistani officer pretended to be a reporter and reached out to the Indian intelligence officer, saying, “I am a correspondent for an international media outlet, and I want to acquire footage of the downed Rafale for my organisation,” adding that the trick worked.

The Indian officer allegedly agreed to share the footage but demanded INR 50,000 in return.

“Once the amount was transferred, the footage was received on the provided WhatsApp number,” Chaudhary disclosed.

He added that the video was so convincing that it compelled many to accept that a Rafale had indeed been shot down.

When investigative journalist Azaz Syed asked whether the footage came from a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) or Intelligence Bureau (IB) official, Chaudhary said he had not been informed of that detail.

“However, the Indian intelligence officer did possess the footage,” he clarified.

When asked which Pakistani intelligence agency had obtained the footage - Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), or the Intelligence Bureau (IB) - Chaudhary declined to name the agency. He asserted that he was not authorised to disclose that information. However, he hinted that it was the “premier intelligence agency.”

It merits mention that New Delhi has neither confirmed nor denied reports that multiple IAF jets were downed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during the aerial combat. However, a number of international media outlets have confirmed reports of Indian aircraft being shot down, including Rafales.

India’s reputable English-language newspaper The Hindu had previously posted on X (formerly Twitter) that three Indian fighter jets were shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The post, however, was removed, with the outlet stating it had not received official confirmation from the Indian government.

Additionally, a senior French intelligence official reportedly confirmed to CNN that a Rafale fighter jet belonging to the IAF was shot down by Pakistan, marking what may be the first known combat loss of the French-made aircraft.

 
“We are aware of the loss of one Rafale and are examining reports suggesting more could have been downed,” CNN quoted a French official as saying.

Meanwhile, BBC Verify reported on May 15 that it authenticated three videos, purportedly showing the wreckage of a French-manufactured Rafale fighter, which is used by the IAF.

 
“In one clip, geolocated by BBC Verify to a field near the city of Bathinda in India's Punjab state, troops can be seen collecting debris from the crashed jet,” it said.

 
The outlet further reported that it also had two clips from the same location filmed at night. “One shows debris in the field, while another shows a projectile catching fire in the sky and then fire in an open field,” it revealed.