India rebukes China over support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor

India on May 12 criticised China over reports that Beijing assisted Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, saying countries that support attempts to shield terror infrastructure should reflect on the impact such actions have on their global reputation.

The remarks were made by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the weekly media briefing in New Delhi after reports emerged that Chinese personnel had provided technical support to Pakistan during the military confrontation last year.

“It is for nations that consider themselves responsible to reflect on whether supporting attempts to protect terrorist infrastructure affects their reputation and standing,” Jaiswal said.

India reiterated that Operation Sindoor was launched as a “precise, targeted and calibrated response” to the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 25 tourists were killed. According to the government, the operation targeted terror infrastructure operating from Pakistan.

The latest diplomatic exchange followed reports in Chinese state-linked media indicating that engineers from China’s Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) worked alongside Pakistani personnel during the hostilities.

China’s South China Morning Post and CCTV carried interviews with engineers linked to the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, which develops military aircraft and drones for the Chinese air force.

One engineer, identified as Zhang Heng, reportedly described hearing fighter jets and air raid sirens while stationed at a support base during the conflict. He said the team’s role was to ensure Chinese equipment operated at “full combat potential,” remarks widely interpreted as referring to Chinese-origin J-10CE fighter jets supplied to Pakistan.

Indian officials said China’s involvement was not entirely unexpected. Last year, Lieutenant General Rahul Singh had publicly stated that China provided “live inputs” on Indian deployments to Pakistan during the conflict. He had also alleged that Türkiye supplied Bayraktar drones to Islamabad.

Operation Sindoor remains one of India’s most high-profile cross-border military operations in recent years. Indian military officials have claimed the operation destroyed multiple terror camps and struck several Pakistani military installations.

Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti recently said Indian forces targeted 11 Pakistani airfields and destroyed 13 aircraft during the operation.

The public acknowledgement of Chinese assistance is likely to further strain already tense India-China relations, which remain affected by border disputes and broader strategic competition in the region. China and Pakistan have had a close military partnership, with Beijing supplying fighter aircraft, missile systems and defence technology to Islamabad.