China Pakistan Alliance Gains Momentum After Op Sindoor
The China-Pakistan alliance is gaining momentum, with the two countries strengthening their partnership over the past six decades, and the recent conflict has highlighted the strategic importance of their cooperation, with China providing cutting-edge platforms to Pakistan and the involvement of the Chinese PLA in the conflict.
The recent military operation, dubbed Operation Sindoor, has failed to achieve its strategic objectives, exposing critical vulnerabilities and strengthening China-Pakistan cooperation, with the Pakistan military likely to address its vulnerabilities quickly and enabling surge operations against India.
The operation has highlighted the importance of a robust digital ecosystem, professional combat training, and integration of space assets for modern air warfare, with China's BeiDou satellite constellation and Yaogan satellite providing significant situational awareness to the Pakistan Air Force. The PAF has adopted a new warfare concept called Multi Domain Operations, which includes a digital ecosystem comprising satellites, airborne and ground assets, and fighters connected by Link-17 software.
China has committed to providing its HQ-19 system, FK-400 mobile air defence system, KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft, and CM-400 AKG ALBM to Pakistan, enabling Pakistan to counter India's long-range fires and establish air superiority. The PLA's closeness with the Pakistan military can be gauged by the fact that Pakistani officers have been embedded in the PLA's Western Theatre Command and in the Xinjiang Military Division.
The conflict between India and Pakistan, dubbed "Operation Sindoor," is seen as the opening move in a two-front war, with China and Pakistan playing as the "white pieces" and India as the opposing force. The situation is likened to a chess game, with China using Pakistan as a proxy to challenge India, and the conflict is just the beginning of a long-drawn war of wits, nerve, and military muscle.