China-Pakistan military relations have once again faced new scrutiny after Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt Gen Rahul R Singh accused Beijing of acting as a proxy through Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
He called China’s move a strategic operation to try out its weapons in an actual battlefield, thus using Pakistan as a “live lab” while not engaging directly with India.
China Tested Its Weapons Through Pakistan
Addressing a FICCI gathering on Friday, Lt Gen Singh said that 81% of Pakistan’s weapons are Chinese. He asserted that China took advantage of this reliance during India’s recent cross-border military operation, Operation Sindoor.
Operation Sindoor, which was initiated on May 7, aimed at terrorist launchpads and assets along the Line of Control and in Pakistan’s Punjab province in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that cost 26 Indian civilians their lives.
He added China exploited the conflict to test how its systems hold up against Indian and Western arms. “China has been able to test its weapons. It’s like a live lab available to it,” Singh said.
One Border, Three Adversaries
Lt Gen Singh defined India’s strategic problem as “one border, two adversaries,” namely Pakistan and China. He then added, “actually, three,” naming Turkey for its drone and military aid to Pakistan.
Lt. Gen Singh pointed out that whereas India has direct confrontation with Pakistan, China would only “kill by a borrowed knife,” an old Chinese strategic proverb. Instead of engaging in conflict directly on the northern frontier, China employs Pakistan to “inflict pain” on India indirectly.
China Provided Pakistan Live Intel in Real-Time
China did more than furnish gear, as per Singh. He disclosed that Pakistan had live, real-time intelligence during Operation Sindood, including information on Indian troop deployments.
Pakistani officers used specific Indian vectors waiting to be launched as references during DGMO-level talks and asked India to “draw them back.” Singh confirmed that China supplied Pakistan with such inputs.
Ceasefire and Denial of Trump’s Role
Pakistan hit back with missile and drone attacks in Indian Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. Most of them employed Chinese and Turkish equipment. Indian defence systems were able to intercept them successfully. Pakistan’s DGMO later contacted India for a ceasefire.
Though US President Donald Trump took credit for the ceasefire, Indian officials denied the foreign mediation in the ceasefire deal.
Strategic Takeaway
Lt Gen Singh’s comments reveal a pivotal level of the China Pakistan defense alliance. Beijing’s de facto participation in intra-regional disputes is causing concerns regarding escalation and manipulation. India’s armed forces now view this proxy mechanism as a characteristic aspect of future regional security paradigm.
India needs to be prepared not just for overt threats but also for shadow battles where China acts through proxies such as Pakistan.