The army claims that there were other adversaries in Operation Sindoor besides Pakistan.
The army stated that 81 percent of Pakistan’s military equipment is sourced from China, which employs the country as a “live lab” for testing its military technology.
The recent cross-border escalation with Pakistan was detailed by the Army’s Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance), Lieutenant General Rahul R. Singh. After a terrorist incident in Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) on April 22 that resulted in 26 fatalities, tensions between India and Pakistan intensified.
India reacted with Operation Sindoor, aiming at nine terror-related locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). More than 100 terrorists linked to organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were killed as a result of the Indian response.
Operation Sindoor offers several lessons. The leadership’s strategic messaging was clear-cut. It is no longer possible to absorb the pain as we did in the past. The selection of targets and planning was informed by extensive data collected through a combination of human intelligence and technology. In total, 21 targets were identified, and we deemed it prudent to engage with nine of them. “The decision to engage these nine targets was made only on the final day or in the final hour,” said Lt Gen Singh.
As per Lt Gen Singh, the defence relationship between China and Pakistan has progressed beyond traditional arms transfers. There are concerns that China views its close relationship with Pakistan as a chance for experimentation, including the use of advanced platforms and surveillance systems in actual conflicts.
„Wir hatten eine Grenze und zwei, eigentlich drei, Gegner.“ Pakistan occupied the front position. China was offering all conceivable assistance. Chinese military equipment constitutes 81% of the total in Pakistan. China can test its weapons against other weapons, making it akin to a live laboratory for them. Turkey played a significant role in offering the type of support it did. During the DGMO-level discussions, Pakistan received live updates of our key vectors from China. He stated, “We require a strong air defence system.”
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports that since 2015, China has sold arms to Pakistan valued at $8.2 billion. From 2020 to 2024, China was the fourth-largest arms exporter globally. Pakistan received nearly two-thirds (63%) of these exports, making it the largest weapons client for China in Islamabad.
This supply chain encompasses more than 50% of Pakistan’s fighter fleet, featuring the JF-17 Thunder co-developed with China and the more advanced J-10C multirole fighter aircraft. It is reported that Pakistan is poised to incorporate 40 Chinese Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters, thereby joining a select group of nations possessing stealth combat capabilities.
According to a recent report from the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for 2025, India views China as its “primary adversary,” whereas Pakistan is regarded more as an “ancillary security problem to be managed.”