Operation Sindoor Not Just a Victory Over Pakistan — It's a Clear Message to China, Says Firstpost Editor

Operation Sindoor Not Just a Victory Over Pakistan — It's a Clear Message to China, Says Firstpost Editor

According to a report by the editor of global media outlet Firstpost, India’s counter-terrorism Operation Sindoor was not merely a decisive military triumph over Pakistan, but also a strong and strategic message to China. The operation, carried out against multiple terrorist and military targets in Pakistan, exposed significant failures in Chinese-supplied defense systems and weaponry.

During Operation Sindoor, Indian forces targeted at least nine terrorist camps and eleven air bases inside Pakistan. Using missiles and drones, the Indian military struck deep within Pakistani territory, destroying key assets including nuclear-related installations.

India’s Ministry of Defence released satellite images and time-stamped videos of the strikes to ensure credibility before the international community. The report states that China's HQ-9 and HQ-16 air defense systems, supplied to Pakistan, proved ineffective during the operation. Moreover, serious questions were raised about the performance of China’s much-publicized J-10 fighter jets, which failed to mount any effective resistance against India’s Rafale jets.

India’s domestically developed Akash SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) systems successfully intercepted multiple targets, and its electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) technology significantly outperformed Chinese systems.

Both China and Pakistan launched an aggressive information campaign in the aftermath. Pakistan attempted to circulate fake proof of success by using edited images and video game footage on social media. While the Chinese government remained officially silent, it allegedly deployed bots across Western social media platforms to spread anti-India narratives.

A retired chief of the Pakistan Air Force reportedly admitted that an Indian BrahMos missile had destroyed a critical AWACS aircraft at the Bholaari Air Base in Sindh province.

India asserted that all its pilots returned safely, and there was no evidence to support Pakistan's claim that a Rafale jet had been downed. Additionally, the Indian Navy deployed its fleet to the northern Arabian Sea, strategically cornering Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan’s naval and air units were confined to their bases.

This operation not only targeted terrorism within Pakistan but also posed a serious challenge to the reliability of Chinese military technology and its standing in the global arms market.

Analysts have described Operation Sindoor as a strategic milestone for India — one that is likely to shape the country’s future defense policies and doctrines.