China Admits Providing Technical Support to Pakistan During Operation Sindoor

New Delhi: China has, for the first time, confirmed that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during last year’s conflict with India, referred to in New Delhi as Operation Sindoor, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

The admission came during an interview aired by China’s state broadcaster CCTV, where engineers from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) acknowledged their direct involvement in supporting Pakistani operations. This marks Beijing’s first official recognition of personnel-level participation in the India-Pakistan conflict.

The development relates to tensions that escalated after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 last year, which killed 26 people. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror-related sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

According to the report, Zhang Heng, an engineer at AVIC’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, was among those deployed to provide technical assistance during the conflict. He described challenging working conditions at the support base, citing extreme heat, frequent fighter jet activity, and air-raid alerts.

Pakistan’s Air Force operates Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets, and Chinese engineers indicated their role was to ensure these platforms performed at full combat capability. Another AVIC engineer, Xu Da, described the aircraft’s performance as expected, highlighting confidence in its operational effectiveness.

The J-10CE is an export version of China’s J-10C fighter aircraft and is among the most advanced in its class. Pakistan remains the only country outside China to operate this platform, having ordered 36 jets along with PL-15 missiles in 2020.

The disclosure comes amid longstanding concerns in India over the deepening China-Pakistan defence partnership. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China has supplied arms worth $8.2 billion to Pakistan since 2015, with a majority of its exports directed to Islamabad.

Indian military officials have previously stated that a significant portion of Pakistan’s defence equipment is of Chinese origin, with concerns that such cooperation allows China to test military technologies in real-world conflict conditions.

The episode also highlights broader regional security dynamics, with India continuing to focus on strengthening defence preparedness, including air defence systems and joint operational capabilities, in response to evolving threats. (Agencies)