NEW DELHI: In light of reports indicating that China provided technological assistance to Pakistan during a military conflict following India’s Operation Sindoor last year, the Indian government has called on China to consider the potential reputational risks associated with its support for terrorist infrastructure.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that these reports merely reinforce existing knowledge of the situation. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized, “Operation Sindoor was a precise, targeted and calibrated response to the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, aimed at destroying state-sponsored terrorist infrastructure operating out of Pakistan and at its behest.” He responded to inquiries at a media briefing regarding China’s role in supporting Pakistan.
Jaiswal further remarked, “It is for nations who consider themselves responsible to reflect whether supporting attempts to protect terrorist infrastructure affects their reputation and standing.”
Recent reports from Beijing confirmed that China had acknowledged providing on-site technical support to Pakistan during the conflict that erupted in May of last year. This affirmation emerged from an interview aired by China’s state broadcaster CCTV with Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, which plays a significant role in developing advanced fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, Zhang provided technical support to Pakistan throughout the four-day military engagement in May. The Pakistan Air Force operates a fleet of Chinese-made J-10CE jets, manufactured by a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.
