Pakistan successfully impedes 25 Indian drones via shoot-down operations.
Rewritten Article:
Did Chinese Jets Join the Fray Between India and Pakistan? Pakistan Claims So, But China Holds its Tongue
- Reporting by AFP, RAWALPINDI, Pakistan
Tensions between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighbors, have reached new heights following a series of deadly attacks and counter-attacks. Yesterday, the Pakistan Army announced the supposed downing of 25 Indian drones, escalating this conflict that's been simmering for days along their shared border.
In a statement, the Pakistan military declared the drones shot down were Israeli-made Harop drones, targeted at multiple locations across Pakistan. The air assault, which reportedly resulted in at least 45 casualties, including children, was met with a vow of retaliation from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
"We will avenge each drop of the blood of these martyrs," Sharif said in a passionate address to the nation, following the violence.
India has conceded to Pakistan's air raid, claiming to have neutralized an air defense system in Lahore after Pakistan allegedly launched an attack using "drones and missiles." However, it remains undecided if India has suffered any losses in this skirmish.
The situation took a curious turn when Pakistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, told parliament that Chinese J-10C jets were used to bring down five Indian fighter jets along the border, among them, French-made Rafale jets. This revelation, if true, would mark the first time China's military aircraft have been involved in conflicts between India and Pakistan.
But China maintains a far-from-committal stance on the matter. Upon being asked if Chinese jets were utilized in the India-Pakistan conflict, the Chinese foreign ministry responded, "We are not familiar with the matter." This response, while not an outright denial, keeps China's position ambiguous on the issue.
This standoff revolves around the contested region of Kashmir, a Muslim-majority territory divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both. The latest action in this conflict follows India's missile strikes on Wednesday morning, which came after gunmen killed 26 tourists, mainly Hindus, in Pahalgam, Kashmir, last month.
The Pahalgam attack, which India blames on Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has stoked tensions between the two nations, leading to days of threats and diplomatic measures. Pakistan, on the other hand, denies any involvement in the attack and calls for an independent investigation.
[1] Reuters
[2] Bloomberg
[3] Associated Press of Pakistan
[4] Defense News
[5] South China Morning Post
- In an unexpected twist, Pakistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, claimed that Chinese J-10C jets were involved in downing five Indian fighter jets along the shared border.
- The Pakistan Army declared the downing of 25 Indian drones, escalating the ongoing conflict with India, and alleged that they were Israeli-made Harop drones launched from multiple locations across Pakistan.
- General-news outlets have reported that Pakistan's use of Chinese jets in the conflict between India and Pakistan, if true, would mark China's first involvement in such skirmishes.
- Despite the allegations, China maintains an ambiguous position, stating they are not familiar with the matter regarding the use of Chinese jets in the India-Pakistan conflict.
