[By Our Correspondent]
China has acknowledged its deep ties with Pakistan, emphasizing ongoing defense cooperation, but sidestepped direct questions about its involvement in Pakistan’s Operation Sindoor in May. During a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the relationship between China and Pakistan as one of “traditional friendship” and confirmed that defense collaboration is routine, yet clarified it does not target any third party. The statement follows remarks by Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, who suggested China provided significant military support to Pakistan during the operation, treating the conflict as a testing ground for its weaponry. China also noted that its relationship with India is at a “critical moment of improvement and development.”
Also read: PM Modi to Review Operation Sindoor Global Outreach Efforts
Indian Army’s Claims on Chinese Involvement
Speaking at the ‘New Age Military Technologies’ conference hosted by FICCI last week, Lt Gen Rahul R Singh detailed China’s influence on Pakistan’s military capabilities, stating that 81% of Pakistan’s military hardware over the past five years has been supplied by China. He claimed China used the May 7-10 conflict as a “live lab” to test its weapons systems, with Pakistan acting as the “front face.” Singh further revealed that during DGMO-level talks, Pakistan hinted at possessing real-time intelligence, allegedly provided by China, about India’s military readiness. He also pointed to Turkiye’s role in supplying military equipment to Pakistan, suggesting India faced multiple adversaries during the operation.
Pakistan’s Army Chief Rejects External Support Claims
On the same day, Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir dismissed allegations of foreign assistance in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, calling them “factually incorrect.” Addressing graduating officers at the National Defence University in Islamabad, Munir stressed Pakistan’s “indigenous capability and institutional resilience” built through decades of strategic planning. He criticized attempts to implicate other nations in the bilateral conflict with India as “irresponsible” and accused critics of engaging in “camp politics.”