Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, has silenced Sky News anchor Yalda Hakim during a recent interview in which she appeared to reflect the Indian narrative regarding the downing of Indian Rafale jets.
Responding calmly but decisively, Dr. Faisal urged the journalist to adopt a more neutral tone and challenged her assertions by referencing international coverage of the incident. He pointed specifically to a CNN report that, according to him, cited senior French intelligence sources confirming that multiple Indian aircraft had been shot down by Pakistan.
Pakistan high commissioner to UK @PakistaninUK @DrMFaisal presenting fighting Pakistan case aggressively and with logic on international media @SkyNews he countered baseless allegations by @SkyYaldaHakim very well we need more diplomats like Dr Faysal to counter false propaganda… pic.twitter.com/xnBsugDcJX
— Azhar Javaid (@azharjavaiduk) May 7, 2025
“I hope you’ve reviewed the CNN coverage,” Dr. Faisal remarked. “They quoted a senior French intelligence official who confirmed the destruction of more than one Indian aircraft. CNN is a reputable outlet—I rarely question their reporting.”
The air engagement, which saw Chinese-made Pakistani J-10 fighter jets confront French-made Indian Rafales, has drawn global attention, especially from military analysts assessing the performance of advanced combat systems.
According to two U.S. officials cited by Reuters, at least two Indian aircraft were downed during the skirmish—a development being viewed as a significant moment for China’s growing aerospace capabilities and a potential shift in the regional balance of air power.
