Did China Help Pakistan in the India Standoff? Beijing Responds
China Denies Involvement in Indo-Pak Hostilities
China has denied any involvement of its fighter jets in the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. This comes amidst reports suggesting that Pakistan may have used JF-17 Thunder jets, a fighter aircraft co-developed by China and Pakistan, to counter India’s precision air strikes during Operation Sindoor.
Beijing’s Response
When asked about the potential involvement of the JF-17 in Pakistan’s retaliation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated to Reuters that they were “not familiar with the matter.”
India’s Strong Objection
This clarification from Beijing follows India’s strong objection to a report published by Chinese state-run media outlet, Global Times. The report claimed that three Indian fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. India dismissed this claim as ‘baseless’ and accused Global Times of spreading disinformation. The Indian Embassy in Beijing took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their disappointment, stating, “Dear @globaltimesnews, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation. When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics.”
Global Times’s Source and India’s Rebuttal
Global Times had cited unnamed Pakistani military sources to support their claim. However, the Indian government has categorically rejected these claims, asserting that their operation was successful and that no Indian assets were lost.
Operation Sindoor: A Coordinated Counter-Offensive
Operation Sindoor, launched at 1.05 am on Wednesday, involved a 25-minute series of precision strikes by Indian air, naval, and ground forces against nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). These strikes targeted facilities linked to proscribed outfits including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Experts believe that the scale and depth of Operation Sindoor surpassed the 2019 Balakot operation. This counter-offensive aimed to avenge the killings of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Palgam on April 22.
China’s Call for Restraint
In the aftermath of the operation, Beijing urged both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint in the larger interest of peace and stability in the region. China also stated its willingness to play a constructive role in easing tensions by working with the international community. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian emphasized, “We oppose all forms of terrorism. We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint, and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation.”
