SOURCE: AFI
In a startling revelation, Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance), has hinted at significant Chinese involvement in providing real-time intelligence to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during the recent India-Pakistan military conflict, codenamed Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the ‘New Age Military Technologies’ event organized by FICCI, Lt Gen Singh disclosed that Chinese surveillance capabilities were not only monitoring Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets but also relaying critical, real-time data to the PAF, enabling them to track IAF movements with precision.
According to Lt Gen Singh, during de-escalation talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, the Pakistani DGMO explicitly referenced their awareness of specific IAF operations. “When DGMO-level talks were going on, Pakistanis were actually mentioning that we know that your such and such important vector is primed and ready for attack, and we would request you to perhaps call it off,” Lt Gen Singh stated. This suggests that Pakistan had access to highly accurate and timely intelligence about IAF assets, including their positioning and readiness.
A particularly striking claim involves a Chinese tip-off to the PAF regarding an IAF Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet, armed with the BrahMos-A air-launched cruise missile (ALCM), which was allegedly preparing to strike the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) at Kamra. The PAC Kamra facility is a critical hub where Pakistan, in collaboration with China, assembles the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role fighter jet co-developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) and PAC. The facility also houses avionics, radar systems, and missile integration capabilities, making it a high-value target for India during the conflict.
Lt Gen Singh’s remarks indicate that Chinese intelligence, likely derived from advanced surveillance systems such as satellites or electronic monitoring, provided the PAF with precise details about the IAF’s planned operations. This intelligence reportedly allowed Pakistan to preemptively request India to refrain from targeting the PAC Kamra facility during DGMO-level discussions. Sources suggest that the IAF called off the planned strike on Kamra following the Pakistani DGMO’s plea for a ceasefire, which was initiated on May 10, 2025, after four days of intense hostilities.
The revelation underscores the deepening military cooperation between China and Pakistan, particularly in the realm of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Posts on X and media reports have highlighted that during Operation Sindoor, China provided Pakistan with real-time satellite imagery and intelligence, enhancing the PAF’s situational awareness. This support reportedly included tracking IAF assets, such as the Su-30MKI, which is a mainstay of India’s air combat capabilities and was used to deploy BrahMos missiles during the operation.
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, was India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives. The operation involved precision strikes on terror infrastructure and Pakistani military bases, including airfields like Nur Khan, Sargodha, and Bholari, using a range of advanced weaponry such as BrahMos missiles, SCALP-EG, and Spice-2000 precision-guided bombs. The IAF’s strikes reportedly destroyed significant PAF assets, including three JF-17 Thunders, two Mirage III/V variants, and one F-16, alongside a Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS and a C-130B.
The Pakistani DGMO’s request to avoid targeting PAC Kamra, coupled with their awareness of IAF vectors, suggests that China’s advanced ISR capabilities played a pivotal role in bolstering Pakistan’s defense strategy. This development has broader implications for India’s military planning, particularly as it faces a two-front challenge from Pakistan and China. The integration of Chinese technology, such as the J-10C and JF-17 Block III fighters equipped with PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles, further highlights the growing influence of China’s military-industrial complex in South Asia.
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