Pak’s Arms Shopping Post-Op Sindoor Matter Of Concern; China Remains Challenge: Navy Official

Mumbai, Nov 27:  China’s rapid naval growth and Pakistan’s accelerated arms procurement following Operation Sindoor pose significant security challenges for India, Vice Admiral K. Swaminathan, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, said at a security conference in Mumbai on Wednesday.

The Vice Admiral highlighted that China now operates the world’s largest navy, having added a fleet equivalent to the size of the Indian Navy within a decade. The commissioning of its third aircraft carrier, Fujian, and recent demonstrations of advanced fifth and sixth-generation fighters reflect Beijing’s expanding global ambitions, he said. China continues to maintain five to eight vessels — including warships, research ships and tracking vessels — in the Indian Ocean Region, signalling sustained assertiveness.

Turning to Pakistan, Swaminathan said the May military campaign under Operation Sindoor has reshaped India’s strategic posture. The operation, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, targeted terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK as well as several air bases. He called it a “new normal” in India-Pakistan relations.

Since then, Pakistan has been “arming itself like never before,” the officer warned, alleging that the country’s military is sourcing weapons globally despite an economic crisis. He said Operation Sindoor exposed overt collusion between Pakistan and China, and revealed Turkey’s growing role as a sponsor and supplier to Islamabad.

Swaminathan said the four-day campaign demonstrated India’s multi-domain capability and dispelled assumptions that Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent or foreign backing would prevent India from mounting conventional operations.

During a panel discussion, Air Marshal Rakesh Sinha of the Integrated Defence Staff said Operation Sindoor displayed seamless tri-service synergy, with the Air Force providing the bulk of strategic reach and precision strikes. He said the operation signalled India’s readiness to deliver a decisive response to hostile actions, rejecting “nuclear blackmail.”

Sinha noted that India’s drones proved highly effective due to strong Airborne Warning and Control System support, underscoring the country’s growing multidomain warfare capabilities.  (Agencies)