'One border, three adversaries': China used Pak as live lab to test weapons, says deputy COAS on Operation Sindoor; outlines key lessons from India-Pakistan escalation
Operation Sindoor
, launched by India in the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, was used by China as a pretext to turn Pakistan into a testing ground for it s weapons, deputy chief of army staff (Capability Development and Sustenance), Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh said on Friday.
He added that India essentially faced three adversaries -- including Turkey, which provided drones and trained staff to Islamabad -- along a single border.
Speaking at the 'New Age Military Technologies' event organised by FICCI, Lt Gen Singh said the operation highlighted the critical need for enhanced air defence and rapid technological advancement in military operations.
He revealed that Pakistan received live battlefield inputs from China during the conflict.
'When the DGMO-level talks were on, Pakistan had the live updates of our important vectors, from China,' Singh said, adding, 'China can test its weapons against other weapons, so it's like a live lab available to them. Turkey also played an important role… they gave Bayraktar and numerous other drones.'
Lt Gen Singh said Pakistan led the confrontation while China provided 'all possible support' and even real-time intelligence inputs.
'When DGMO-level talks were on, Pakistan had the live updates of our important vectors, from China,' he revealed.
Also read:
Big revelation on Op Sindoor: 'China fed Pak live data on India assets, Turkey sent trained staff'
The deputy COAS flagged Pakistan's increasing reliance on Chinese military supplies, saying, 'In the last five years, 81% of the military hardware with Pakistan is Chinese.' He warned that the next potential conflict could see population centres being directly targeted. 'This time, our population centres were not quite addressed, but next time, we need to be prepared for that.'
Emphasising the importance of building a robust air defence system, Lt Gen Singh said, 'Air Defence and how it panned out during the entire operation was important… We need a robust air defence system.'
The senior officer also spoke about the strategic objectives behind Operation Sindoor, which was launched after the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. The assault was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy. Singh said the Indian Armed Forces responded with a calibrated yet decisive approach.
Key lessons from Operation Sindoor, according to Lt Gen Rahul R Singh:
No more tolerance for terror strikes: 'There is no scope of absorbing the pain the way we did a few years ago.'
Precision targeting through intelligence: 'The planning and selection of targets was based on a lot of data that was collected using technology and human intelligence.'
Careful operational restraint: 'A total of 21 targets were identified, out of which nine targets we thought would be prudent to engage... It was only the final day or the final hour that the decision was taken that these nine targets would be engaged.'
Tri-services approach: 'A considered decision was taken that it will be a tri-services approach to send the right message that we indeed are an integrated force.'
Escalation control: 'An important consideration was that we should always be at the top of the escalation ladder.'
Strategic war termination: 'War is easy to initiate, but it's very difficult to control. So I would say that was a very masterly stroke that was played to stop the war at an appropriate time.'
Firm deterrence: 'There would be punitive action if required... That is one important message that stands out loud and clear.'
Referring to the post-operation ceasefire with Pakistan, Singh said, 'Punch was ready, Pakistan realised it could be in a bad condition, that is the reason why they asked for a ceasefire.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India takes no position on matters of faith: MEA on Dalai Lama's successor
In response to queries about the recent statement by the Dalai Lama on the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution, India on Friday said it does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'The government has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so.' On Wednesday, the Dalai Lama, ahead of his 90th birthday on 6 July, stated that 'the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter'. The Chinese foreign ministry, however, insisted that any future heir must receive Beijing's seal of approval. In India, the Dalai Lama's announcement was welcomed by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju. On Friday, China objected to Rijiju's remarks that the incarnation of the Dalai Lama should follow his own wishes. It urged India to act cautiously on Tibet-related issues to avoid any adverse impact on bilateral relations. 'India should be clear of the anti-China separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama and honour its commitments on Xizang (Tibet) related issues,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a media briefing in Beijing. Rijiju, a Buddhist, reiterated on Friday that all devotees and followers of the Dalai Lama want the Tibetan spiritual leader himself to decide on his successor. He clarified that he was not making the remarks on behalf of the Indian government and was not responding to a Chinese statement. 'There is no need for me or the government to say anything. Who would be the next Dalai Lama will be decided by him,' Rijiju told reporters in New Delhi. Asked about China's statement, he said, 'I do not want to react to China's statement. I speak as a devotee. I have faith in the Dalai Lama. Those who follow the Dalai Lama wish that he decides his successor.'
India.com
22 minutes ago
- India.com
'We were fighting three enemies during Operation Sindoor', says Army, apart from Pakistan there were...
New Delhi: Indian Deputy Army Chief General Rahul Singh says that during Operation Sindoor, India was fighting three enemies in a way. Which were two other enemies? He said that during the war with Pakistan, live updates were being given to it by China. Apart from this, Turkey was also helping it. In this way, the Indian Army was fighting three enemies at one time. Deputy Army Chief Rahul Singh said in a programme organized by FICCI that live updates were being given to Pakistan by the Chinese during the war. In this way, China was helping Pakistan completely. Addressing a programme organized on the topic of new era military technology, Lieutenant General said, 'We had one border, but there were two enemies and in reality there were three. Pakistan was right in front and China was helping it in every way. Even 81 percent of the weapons that Pakistan has are from China. In this way, China also tested its weapons in front of other weapons. In this way, a live lab was created for China for the purpose of testing its weapons. Similarly, Turkey also helped Pakistan in its own way. When the DGMO level was being discussed, Pakistan was getting complete updates from China.' What did Deputy Army Chief advice? Lieutenant General Rahul Singh said that we must have a strong air defense so that we can deal with the threat from Pakistan and China together. He said, 'It is important how the air security was during the entire operation. This time there was no major damage to our citizens, but we will have to strengthen our air defense system further.' During this, he also praised the Indian Army and said that we attacked Pakistan with great precision and targeted the same places from where the terrorists were getting training. What was the message from leadership? He said that we have also learned something from Operation Sindoor. There was a clear message to us from the leadership. It was said that there is no need to forget the pain we have suffered. We used to do this a few years ago. Based on data, we decided the targets and then planned the attacks. For this, we used technology and human intelligence. We had obtained information about a total of 21 targets and targeted 9 of them. Not only this, we decided at the last moment which 9 places were to be targeted.
News18
23 minutes ago
- News18
False Allegations Under POSH Act Dangerous, Will Compromise System: Justice N Kotiswar Singh
The Supreme Court judge said sexual harassment is the result of misogynistic, patriarchal, feudalistic, and male chauvinistic ideals Supreme Court's Justice N Kotiswar Singh has highlighted the misuse of provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act and said that making false allegations under the law is equally dangerous. Speaking at the launch of the Portal for Complaints of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace of the Delhi High Court, the Supreme Court judge reflected on allegations that the POSH Act may be misused. 'There is a possibility, and it has happened. Our past experience shows that when the Dowry Prohibition Act was introduced. In the 80s, when we were students, we heard every day in the newspapers, these bride-burning cases, which prompted the legislature to enact this Dowry Prohibition Act. We see false allegations being made. The same is with domestic violence also; this is something that we have to be careful…" he said. Referring to the POSH Act itself, Justice Singh said that it is not a transactional Act but a multilayered one, and members of the internal complaints committees must genuinely believe in the efficacy of the system. On the step taken by the Delhi High Court to launch the portal, Justice Singh said it is indeed a very important step for the pure purpose that it enhances confidentiality and confidence among people, apart from transparency. 'A workplace should be a place for opportunity and accomplishment and creativity. Not a place generating fear and anxiety. A workplace must provide for respect and dignity of individuals and equal opportunity for all. Any such act that negates a conducive atmosphere for work has to be forbidden… As far as women are concerned, there is nothing more grievous than sexual harassment. It demeans women, acts as a barrier to creativity, slows down their efficacy, causing immense mental and physical trauma, which is completely antithetical to the principles of equality, liberty and justice that form the core principles of our Constitution. Therefore, this menace has to be taken head-on…" he added. Justice Singh said that sexual harassment is not an act perpetrated by one individual on another. In fact, he said, it is the result of misogynistic, patriarchal, feudalistic, and male chauvinistic ideals, which still prevail in the minds of many who consider the role of women to be confined only to the domestic sphere. On the large number of women joining and becoming valuable partners of the national building exercise, contributing in all walks of life, Justice Singh referred to the judiciary and said, 'We see that now the number of lady recruits in the judiciary is more than men. The average perhaps ranges from 40 to 70%. In fact, we joke sometimes that the men's species is going to vanish from the Indian judiciary, at least as far as the district judiciary is concerned." The event was also attended by Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, and Justice Prathiba M Singh, who is the Chairperson of the Internal Complaints Committee.
