Rafale was "combat proven" over Libya and Syria where US had already established massive air superiority. Bombing militias is one thing, going up against a peer with similar equipment and getting into an equal v equal fight is another world. The Rafale failed in that. This lesson will not be lost on the Indonesians, Emiratis, Saudis, Malaysians, Qataris, Iraqis and Egyptians. All of whom have quite close relations with PAF and are Rafales customers or potential customers. 100% these guys will want the real story from the PAF, at the very same time Dassault will want to convince them it was not a combat loss.
Real world implications here.