Qalam Times News Network
New Delhi | July 4, 2025
In a pointed address at the FICCI-organised event New Age Military Technologies, Lieutenant General Rahul R. Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance), made a striking revelation regarding Pakistan’s heavy dependence on Chinese military equipment. According to Lt Gen Singh, a staggering 81% of Pakistan’s defence hardware originates from China, effectively turning the country into a “live laboratory” for Beijing’s arms testing and strategic experimentation.
“Pakistan is at the frontline, but the support it receives from China makes it more than a bilateral concern. In fact, we’re now confronting two, if not three adversaries on a single front,” said the Deputy Army Chief, hinting at the complexity of India’s evolving security landscape.
Insights from Operation Sindoor
Lt Gen Singh used the forum to reflect on Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military response to the Pahalgam terror attack in May that claimed 26 innocent lives. The operation, conducted on May 7, targeted several terror outfits operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
He highlighted several strategic takeaways from the mission. “Air defence systems played a critical role during the operation. While this time our civilian centres weren’t directly impacted, the next conflict may not afford that buffer. We must prepare accordingly,” he stressed.
He acknowledged that target selection was based on a synergy of advanced technology and ground-level human intelligence, noting that while 21 potential targets were initially identified, a deliberate choice was made to strike only nine. “The decision was taken at the final stage—just before the execution—demonstrating both restraint and precision,” Singh elaborated.
Chinese and Turkish Support to Pakistan
A significant part of the Deputy Army Chief’s address was devoted to exposing the extent of foreign collaboration behind Pakistan’s capabilities. He noted that China’s involvement was not limited to supplying weapons. Real-time battlefield intelligence was also reportedly shared with Pakistan during key military negotiations, such as DGMO-level talks with India.
Adding another layer to the security threat, Lt Gen Singh disclosed that Turkey had also supported Pakistan, notably by supplying combat drones such as the Bayraktar, which have seen extensive use in modern conflict zones.
The Imperative of Strategic Readiness
“The Chinese are not just aiding Pakistan; they are using the subcontinent as a live weapons-testing ground,” Singh remarked, warning that India’s military must evolve rapidly in terms of technology integration, intelligence coordination, and strategic messaging.
He commended India’s armed forces for conducting high-precision strikes with tactical clarity and national-level coordination. “War is easy to initiate but extremely hard to control,” he cautioned, praising the Indian leadership for halting Operation Sindoor at the right juncture, thereby avoiding escalation.
“The days of strategic ambiguity and passive endurance are behind us,” he concluded. “India’s response to terrorism is now shaped by deliberate strategy, unambiguous resolve, and robust technological backbone.”
Reported by Qalam Times News Network
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