A recent report submitted to the United States Congress has acknowledged Pakistan’s military success over India during the four-day conflict in May, stating that Islamabad used advanced Chinese-made weapons to shoot down Indian aircraft, including French-built Rafale fighters. The findings were included in the annual assessment by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which examines China’s global security footprint and bilateral defence ties.
Report Highlights Pakistan-China Defence Synergy
According to the report, Pakistan’s battlefield performance showcased the operational effectiveness of Chinese military technology when deployed in an active conflict. Systems such as the HQ-9 air-defence platform, PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles, and the J-10C fighter jet were used in the engagements—marking their first major test in real combat conditions. The document notes that Pakistan claimed to have downed seven Indian jets, including Rafales, as well as multiple unmanned aircraft.
The commission described the episode as a significant “selling point” for Beijing’s defence exports, as the performance of Chinese systems attracted attention from militaries seeking high-end capabilities at lower cost. It further revealed that China offered Pakistan a package in June that included 40 J-35 fifth-generation fighters, KJ-500 early-warning aircraft, and ballistic missile defence systems.
Conflict Sparked by Indian Strikes Inside Pakistan
The confrontation began on the night of May 5 and 6 when India launched missile strikes into Pakistani territory following a deadly attack that killed 26 people in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India said it was targeting militant positions, but Pakistan reported civilian and security personnel casualties.
Pakistan responded with a wide-ranging counteroffensive, code-named Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, striking more than 20 Indian military installations across various regions. The Pakistan Air Force also deployed JF-17 Thunder jets armed with hypersonic missiles to destroy an Indian S-400 air-defence battery in Adampur, the report noted.
Deep Strikes on Both Sides Not Seen in Decades
The document underscored the scale of the confrontation, stating that both countries carried out strikes deeper into each other’s territory “than at any point in the past 50 years,” marking one of the most serious military escalations between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades.
The hostilities concluded on May 10 after a ceasefire was brokered by the United States, bringing an abrupt end to the spiralling conflict.
