Army deputy chief: Operation Sindoor faced 3 foes - Pakistan, China & Turkiye
Operation Sindoor
, with Pakistan being actively supported by China and Turkiye, a top Army officer said on Friday, adding that Beijing was even providing Islamabad with "live" satellite inputs on Indian military movements and deployments.
"We had one border and two adversaries, actually three. Pakistan was in the front. China was providing all possible support," Army deputy chief (capability development & sustenance) Lt Gen Rahul R Singh said at a seminar on 'New Age Military Technologies' organised by Ficci. "This is no surprise because 81% of military hardware that Pakistan is getting is all Chinese. China, of course, (followed) the good old dictum, kill with a borrowed knife.
.. So, he (sic) would rather use the neighbour to cause pain than get involved in the mudslinging match on the northern borders," he added.
The deep Pakistan-China military collusiveness was reinforced during the cross-border hostilities from May 7 to 10, with Islamabad using a wide array of Chinese weapons and sensor-shooter networks, ranging from J-10 fighters firing the PL-15 beyond visual range air-to-air missiles to HQ-9 air defence missile batteries, as reported by TOI earlier.
Lt Gen Singh, on his part, said China was able to test its weapons against those used by India during the conflict. "So, it's like a live lab available to them. It is something that we have to be very cognizant about," he said.
"Turkiye also played an important role in providing the type of support it did," he added. Pakistan, for instance, extensively used Turkish-origin Byker Yiha III kamikaze drones and Asisguard Songar drones during the conflict.
The senior officer said crucial lessons among the multiple ones to be learned from Operation Sindoor include the need for an effective C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), a more robust air defence network and civil-military fusion.
The candid remarks come after Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, speaking in Singapore on May 31, downplayed China's role in the conflict.
While Pakistan may have leveraged Chinese commercial satellite imagery, there is "no proof of real-time targeting support" provided by Beijing, the CDS had said.
'Pak was getting live inputs about India from China'
Pointing to China using its extensive satellite network to monitor Indian military movements, Lt Gen Singh said, "When the DGMO-level talks were on, Pakistan actually was mentioning that we know that your such and such vector is primed and ready for action, and we would request you to perhaps pull it back. So, he (sic) was getting live inputs from China." Lt Gen Singh also pointed out Indian population centres were not quite at risk during Operation Sindoor.
"In the next round, we'll have to be prepared for that."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
18 minutes ago
- Business Standard
'Modi will meekly bow to Trump': Rahul Gandhi slams PM over tariff deadline
Rahul Gandhi targets PM Narendra Modi over looming US tariff deadline as India continues trade talks; failure to finalise a deal by July 9 could trigger 26 per cent duty on key Indian exports to US Rimjhim Singh New Delhi Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the latter would "meekly bow" to a trade tariff deadline set by US President Donald Trump. In a post on X, Gandhi said, 'Piyush Goyal can beat his chest all he wants, mark my words, Modi will meekly bow to the Trump tariff deadline." Piyush Goyal can beat his chest all he wants, mark my words, Modi will meekly bow to the Trump tariff deadline. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 5, 2025 His remarks come just days ahead of the July 9 deadline for countries, including India, to finalise trade deals with the US and avoid steep reciprocal tariffs. India committed to fair, balanced trade agreements: Piyush Goyal Responding to speculation around the impending deadline, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal reaffirmed that India is committed to finalising trade deals only when they serve the nation's interests. 'India never does a trade deal based on a deadline. Only when a deal is baked and in national interest, only then we accept it,' Goyal said on Friday at the Toy Biz International B2B Expo. He emphasised that India is in active negotiations with multiple countries — including the US, EU, New Zealand, Oman, Chile, and Peru — and that any free trade agreement must be a win-win for both sides. 'An FTA is possible only when both countries benefit... national interest will always be supreme,' he added. Trump tariffs: Talks with US ongoing, deadline nears An Indian delegation, led by Department of Commerce Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, was in Washington from June 27 and extended its visit to iron out key differences with US trade officials. However, an interim bilateral trade agreement has not yet been finalised. The deadline is critical. On April 2, President Trump had announced a 26 per cent duty on Indian exports under his "Liberation Day" reciprocal tariff plan. Though this was suspended for 90 days, the pause ends on July 9. Without a deal, Indian exporters — especially in sectors like textiles, leather, and auto components — may face the steep duty on shipments to the US. US sees India as a key Indo-Pacific partner Amid the trade discussions, the US State Department reaffirmed India's strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific. Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston told news agency ANI that India remains an 'essential partner' and that the US seeks 'fair and reciprocal' trade relationships. 'We want trade that is fair and reciprocal. Working closely, India is an essential partner in the Indo-Pacific and the Quad,' she said, reiterating the Trump administration's 'America First' focus. She defended the tariff move, saying it aimed to counter unfair practices that had harmed US farmers and industries.
India.com
21 minutes ago
- India.com
Danger for Pakistan, China: India building its own 'Bunker Buster', can travel up to 5,000 km carrying..., hit underground target at hypersonic speed
Danger for Pakistan, China: India building its own 'Bunker Buster', can travel up to 5,000 km carrying..., hit underground target at hypersonic speed India's top defence research agency, DRDO, is now working on two upgraded versions of the long-range Agni-5 missile. These new versions will be able to carry a massive 7,500 kg warhead, known as a bunker buster, which can go as deep as 100 meters underground to destroy enemy nuclear systems, radar stations, weapon storage sites, and command centers. Why this matters now This news comes shortly after the United States used 14 powerful GBU-57 bombs on Iran's underground Fordow nuclear facility on June 21. That plant was buried 200 feet deep, and the GBU-57 bombs carried 2,600 kg warheads. What's new in the upgraded Agni-5? The current Agni-5 missile can travel up to 5,000 km carrying a nuclear warhead. The two new versions will have a shorter range of 2,500 km, but they will be specialised for underground targets. These will strike at hypersonic speed, between Mach 8 to Mach 20which is 8 to 20 times faster than the speed of sound. The warhead will weigh 7,500 kg, making it more powerful than America's GBU-57, which weighs 2,600 kg. If successful, this will bring India on par with the U.S., whose largest bunker buster, the GBU-57, weighs 13,600 kg (30,000 pounds). DRDO's new missile could make India one of the very few countries with such advanced deep-strike capability. Why these new missiles are important for India After Operation Sindoor, India has started focusing more on developing missiles that can destroy underground enemy bunkers. With rising tensions like India-Pakistan issues and the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, India is strengthening its defence systems to be ready for any future threats. What's the Threat? Pakistan and China have built strong underground military bases near their borders. These bases are often hidden deep under mountains or in high-altitude regions, making them hard to target with regular weapons. How Will These Missiles Help? These bunker-busting Agni-5 missiles will be able to destroy enemy command centers, weapon storage sites, and radar units located underground. They will be especially useful in hilly and mountainous areas, where traditional missiles may not work effectively. By developing these powerful missiles, India is making sure it can hit deep, hidden enemy targets quickly and accurately — a major step in securing its borders and staying ahead in regional defence. America's GBU-57: The World's Most Powerful Bunker-Buster Bomb On June 21, the U.S. carried out a major strike on Iran's underground Fordow nuclear site, using its most powerful bunker-buster weapon — the GBU-57 bomb. This was the first time the U.S. deployed this weapon in a real-world operation. The GBU-57 weighs 30,000 pounds (around 13,600 kg) and is specially designed to destroy deeply buried bunkers and underground targets. It can penetrate thick layers of rock or concrete before exploding. According to Lieutenant General Dan Kane, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, it took the U.S. 15 years to develop this bomb. When the Fordow site was discovered in 2009, the U.S. didn't have any weapon strong enough to destroy it. That's when the development of this powerful bomb began. India to launch 52 Defence Satellites in next 4 years Following Operation Sindoor, India is also planning to boost its space-based defence power. The Indian government has approved a plan to launch 52 special defence satellites by 2029. These satellites will act as 'eyes in the sky' to monitor the Pakistan and China borders 24/7. These satellites will be powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). They will orbit at 36,000 km altitude and communicate with each other to send signals, images, and messages back to Earth quickly and accurately. The project is being carried out under the Defence Space Agency, as part of the Space-Based Surveillance Phase-3 (SBS-3) plan. The government has approved a ₹26,968 crore budget for this mission. It was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in October 2024.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Armenia: Massive Protest In Yerevan Seeking Release Of 'Pro-Putin' Businessman; Moscow Mulls Assistance
'China Will Go All-Out If Russia...': Xi's Aide Unleashes Fire, 'SHAMES' Trump In Europe | Watch China has issued a chilling warning to the U.S. and Europe over the Russia-Ukraine war, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly conveying Beijing's intentions during a closed-door meeting with EU officials in Brussels on July 2-3. EU foreign policy chief was said to be present at the talks. According to reports, Wang Yi declared China 'cannot afford' to see Russia lose in Ukraine, citing fears that if Russia is defeated, the U.S. would redirect its focus from Europe towards China. These remarks, which were not included in official communiques, have startled European diplomats. Watch 916 views | 9 hours ago
