India Faced Three Adversaries in Operation Sindoor: Army Reveals China, Turkey Supported Pakistan

Speaking at a conference on New Age Military Technologies organized by FICCI, Lt. Gen. Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance), stated that while Pakistan was the visible opponent, the real battle included significant military and strategic backing from China and Turkey.

Key Takeaways from Lt. Gen. Singh’s Address:

Three-front confrontation: “One border, two adversaries — in fact, three. Pakistan was the front face, but China and Turkey played crucial support roles,” Singh said.

China’s real-time involvement: China reportedly provided real-time intelligence to Pakistan, including data on Indian weapon deployments. Pakistan's military directly referenced this information during ceasefire talks.

China's strategic interests: The confrontation was used by Beijing as a “live lab” to test Chinese-origin weapons supplied to Pakistan. These included:

• JF-17 and J-10 fighter jets
• PL-15 air-to-air missiles
• HQ-9 long-range air defence systems

Use of Turkish drones: Turkey’s Bayraktar drones and other unmanned aerial systems were deployed during the conflict, along with trained personnel.

Background: Operation Sindoor

Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor was India’s retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead. Indian forces struck nine terror and military installations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation involved:

• Fighter jets
• Missiles
• Drones
• Long-range artillery

The conflict ended on May 10 after backchannel talks and a ceasefire, which Singh described as a “masterstroke”, achieved after India attained its political-military objectives.

Why Pakistan Sought Ceasefire

According to Lt. Gen. Singh, Pakistan backed down when it became clear that India was prepared for a much larger strike. While early assessments suggested Indian air raids prompted the ceasefire, Singh's comments imply that a significant escalation — potentially involving the Indian Navy — was on standby.

“There was a punch that was ready… Pakistan realised that if it came through, the situation would be dire,” Singh said.

India’s Strategic Shift

Lt. Gen. Singh emphasized that India’s response marked a doctrinal shift: sub-conventional attacks (like terror strikes) will now invite conventional military retaliation.

“You cross the redlines and there will be action. No longer will India absorb the pain.”

Lessons and Next Steps

The operation has highlighted the need to:

• Strengthen air defense systems
• Develop counter-drone and rocket artillery solutions
• Speed up military technology adoption

Singh also stressed that timing and control in modern warfare are crucial:

“War is easy to start, but difficult to stop. Ending the operation when we did was a calculated and strategic move.”

Political Reactions

The Congress party seized upon these revelations to renew demands for a Parliamentary debate on India-China relations.

“This is the same China that altered the status quo in Ladakh in 2020 — and the government gave it a clean chit,” said Congress MP Jairam Ramesh. “We will continue to demand accountability in the upcoming Monsoon Session.”

Conclusion

Operation Sindoor was not just a limited skirmish with Pakistan — it was a clear signal of India's evolving military posture in the face of coordinated threats from regional adversaries. With China and Turkey actively supporting Pakistan, India now faces a more complex security matrix that demands sustained vigilance, rapid modernization, and strategic clarity.