ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has praised the performance of Chinese-made weapon systems, particularly J-10C fighter jets, used during Pakistan’s four-day military conflict with India in May, saying they performed “exceptionally well.” His comments mark the first detailed official confirmation of Chinese platforms’ combat effectiveness in South Asia’s most intense aerial clash in years.
Speaking to Bloomberg, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General said, “Recent Chinese platforms have demonstrated exceptionally well,” adding that Pakistan remains open to “all sorts of technology.” He also confirmed that Pakistan’s tally of downed Indian aircraft had increased to seven, rejecting Indian assertions that Islamabad lost any of its planes during the May engagement.
The May conflict erupted after India blamed Pakistan—without evidence—for an attack on Hindu tourists in occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated against Indian airstrikes on Punjab and Azad Kashmir, claiming it shot down six Indian jets, including a French-made Rafale. U.S. mediation on May 10 helped both sides agree to a ceasefire after days of cross-border escalation.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had earlier revealed that Pakistan used Chinese J-10C aircraft armed with PL-15 missiles, marking their first documented combat use anywhere in the world. Bloomberg later confirmed that the conflict was the largest deployment of Chinese weaponry in active warfare in recent history.
In July, the Chinese Air Chief lauded the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) “exemplary performance.” During the same period, Chinese defense industry stocks surged as news of the conflict boosted investor confidence in mainland arms exports.
As tensions rose again, Pakistan’s military warned that any future conflict could bring “cataclysmic devastation.” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif asserted that India had faced a “6-0 defeat” in May, vowing an even “better score” if hostilities resume.
