Ties built on sensitivities: India on China, Turkiye backing Pak with logistics, arms
In the first official response to China and Turkiye, both of which had backed Pakistan in the recent skirmish, India reminded the two countries that “trust” and “sensitivities” must be kept in mind for relations to function effectively.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, when asked whether India had conveyed a message to China during Operation Sindoor (May 7-10), said National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had spoken with the Chinese Foreign Minister and Special Representative on the boundary issue on May 10.
Jaiswal said, “The NSA conveyed India’s resolute stance against cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan… The Chinese side is aware that mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity remain the basis of India-China relations.” Though Jaiswal did not explicitly mention it, the remark appeared to allude to assessments within the strategic affairs community suggesting that Beijing had provided real-time satellite imagery to Pakistan for launching attacks on Indian assets. Besides, media reports have emerged indicating that China, following Operation Sindoor, offered Pakistan its fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the J-20.
On Turkiye-Pakistan relations, Jaiswal said India expected Turkiye to strongly urge Pakistan to end its support for cross-border terrorism and take credible, verifiable action against the terror ecosystem it had harboured for decades. He delivered a clear message to Turkiye, saying “relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each other’s concerns.”
Turkiye had backed Pakistan with logistical support. Indian security agencies estimated that over 350 drones and Turkish military operatives assisted Pakistan during its four-day hostilities with India. This assistance included operational coordination and drone warfare tactics, marking a direct military role by Turkiye in the clashes.
Pakistan launched drone attacks following India’s May 7 strikes, which targeted terror camps deep inside Pakistani territory in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre. Islamabad deployed Bayraktar TB2 and YIHA drones in its retaliatory strikes, using them for surveillance, target marking, and, in some cases, kamikaze-style attacks against Indian forward positions and military convoys.
Turkiye’s defence cooperation with Pakistan has intensified in recent years. According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) titled “Trends in International Arms Transfers-2024”, 10 per cent of all Turkish arms exports between 2020 and 2024 were sent to Pakistan. During the same period, 63 per cent of all Chinese arms exports went to Pakistan. The report noted that Beijing is the fourth-largest arms exporter globally after the US, France and Russia.
India