China’s Foreign Ministry Says It Is “Not Familiar” With Pakistani Combat Use Of Chinese-Made Fighters
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry says it is “not familiar” with Pakistan’s claims to have notified China’s diplomatic mission to Pakistan over its use of J-10C fighters to intercept a series of Indian air strikes in the early hours of May 7.
The Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as telling Pakistan’s parliament on Wednesday that Pakistan’s Air Force used its J-10C fighters to intercept Indian Air Force aircraft conducting the air strikes, with a delegation from China’s embassy visiting Pakistan’s Foreign Office at 4AM local time Wednesday for updates on the use of the Chinese-made fighters.
China’s foreign ministry on Thursday reiterated its calls for India and Pakistan to deescalate following the air strikes. In response to a question by Bloomberg on Dar’s claims to have notified Chinese diplomats, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: “I am not familiar with the matter you mentioned. As for our ambassador in Pakistan, I don’t have any information so far.”
Islamabad claims to have shot down five Indian Air Force aircraft used in the Operation Sindoor airstrikes, including three Dassault Rafales. India has not officially acknowledged any losses, with government communications on social media instead focusing on responding to “Pakistani accounts” which it accuses of resharing photographs and videos of previous Indian Air Force aircraft losses as “proof” of destroyed Indian aircraft, even after a senior French intelligence official told CNN that one Rafale had been shot down.
Dar was quoted as telling Pakistani lawmakers that the Pakistani Air Force had been ordered to “only target Indian jets that released payloads”. “This is why only five jets were taken down. Had the directive been different, nearly 10-12 jets would have been struck.” At the same time Pakistan also claimed to have successfully engaged 25 Indian drones, including a Harop.
Photographs of the wreckage and components of what appears to be a Chinese-made PL-15E beyond visual range air-to-air missile launched by a Pakistani aircraft have surfaced online following the Indian air strike and Pakistani interception. The PL-15E is used by both the J-10C and JF-17s of the Pakistani Air Force, and is advertised to have an engagement range of up to 145 kilometers.
The wreckage was claimed to be found in Hoshiarpur district in northeast Indian Punjab State, suggesting a beyond visual range launch against an Indian target, although which, if any, targets it struck and its ultimate fate remains unknown as of writing.
India claims Operation Sindoor is a “non-escalatory” retaliation strike against nine sites it says are used by terrorist groups linked to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 Indian civilians.