In a rare admission, Indian Deputy Army Chief Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh conceded Pakistan’s superiority in electronic warfare and intelligence operations during recent border clashes. Singh revealed Pakistan possessed precise real-time data on Indian troop movements and strategic deployments, significantly disrupting India’s military plans. This advantage stemmed from advanced electronic jamming tactics and live intelligence feeds provided by China during critical engagements, including high-level talks between the two nations’ military directors.
Pakistan’s strategic partnerships proved decisive. China supplied live satellite and radar intelligence during Operation Sindoor (May 2025), enabling Pakistan to identify and counter Indian military positions. Lt. Gen. Singh described China’s role as using Pakistan as a “live lab” to test weapons and tactics against India, citing an ancient Chinese stratagem of “killing with a borrowed knife.” Turkey further enhanced Pakistan’s capabilities by supplying Bayraktar drones and training personnel, creating a tri-nation alliance that reshaped regional power dynamics.
The clashes highlighted critical vulnerabilities in India’s air defense systems. Singh acknowledged that Indian radar and missile systems underperformed against Pakistani drone swarms and electronic warfare, failing to protect frontline units. While India’s S-400 missile systems provided some coverage, gaps in short-range defenses left troops exposed. The deputy chief urgently called for modernizing India’s air defenses, warning that future conflicts could target civilian population centers. A threat India is currently unprepared to counter.
This trilateral cooperation between Pakistan, China, and Turkey marks a strategic recalibration challenging India’s regional dominance. With 81% of Pakistan’s military hardware sourced from China and Turkey’s drone technology proving effective, India faces a multi-front challenge. Singh emphasized that Pakistan acted as the “front face” of the conflict, backed by Beijing’s real-time support and Ankara’s hardware. The outcome forced India to scale back its military objectives and accept a ceasefire, a move Singh framed as “prudent” given the asymmetric advantages Pakistan now holds.