French media has acknowledged that Pakistan had a major advantage during the recent Indo-Pak clash, with the Pakistan Air Force showcasing an exceptional performance that undermined the pride of the Indian Air Force.
The military engagement over Kashmir saw India deploying its French and US-made weapons against Pakistan’s sophisticated new Chinese arsenal. In its first battlefield test against Western arms, Chinese weaponry largely proved effective, generating interest among military analysts and concern in global strategic circles, AFP reported on Wednesday.
Following Saturday’s ceasefire, attention turned to Islamabad’s Chinese-made defense systems, which saw combat during the intense May 7-10 Indo-Pak confrontation. India, relying on newly acquired Western weaponry, found itself facing China’s increasingly advanced military technology.
Despite initial expectations favoring India’s retaliation for the April 22 attack, New Delhi surprised observers by abandoning its traditional restraint and striking deep within Pakistan—targeting areas in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, border zones, and even Punjab province.
India escalated further by targeting the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, near Pakistan’s nuclear command center. In response, Pakistan retaliated forcefully, claiming its J-10 fighter jets downed India’s French-made Rafales—a claim that sparked enthusiastic reactions on Chinese social media.
According to Yun Sun of the Stimson Center, the clash revealed two key lessons: India’s weapons may not be as effective as expected, and its strategic ambitions might be greater than previously assumed.
