Islamabad: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, addressing the National Assembly on Wednesday, officially confirmed that Pakistan deployed Chinese-origin J-10C fighter aircraft in its retaliatory operations against Indian military aggression.
While briefing lawmakers in the lower house, Dar stated, “The J-10C fighter jets, supplied by China, actively participated in Pakistan’s defensive response.
Meanwhile, Indian Rafale aircraft involved in the incursion were neutralized—possibly due to pilot miscalculation,” according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
The current escalation follows a deadly assault in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which claimed the lives of 26 individuals.
India was quick to assign blame to Pakistan, a claim Islamabad firmly rejected while calling for an impartial and transparent investigation into the incident.
In retaliation to Indian missile strikes carried out in the early hours of Wednesday, the Pakistan Air Force brought down five Indian military aircraft, including three Rafale fighters.
Pakistan has traditionally relied heavily on imported defense systems, with the J-10C being among the recent high-tech additions to its aerial arsenal.
According to a detailed briefing by Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), the Indian missile attacks targeted six separate locations across Pakistan, resulting in the martyrdom of at least 31 civilians and injuries to dozens more.
The Pakistani response resulted in the downing of five Indian fighter jets: three French-built Rafale aircraft, one Soviet-era MiG-21, and one Russian-made SU-30.
The incident marks a significant moment in the ongoing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Foreign Minister Dar also disclosed that Pakistan had prior intelligence indicating a potential Indian military move at around 10 PM on Tuesday. This intelligence led to the immediate mobilization of defensive assets.
“Our forces were instructed to engage only those Indian aircraft that launched offensive payloads,” Dar noted. “As a result, only five jets were taken out.
Had the orders been broader, we had the capability to neutralize 10 to 12 aircraft.”
Following the initial Indian air incursion, Pakistani fighter jets intercepted four aircraft attempting to breach its airspace.
Subsequently, retaliatory strikes were launched against additional targets within Indian territory.
Dar emphasized that any further violations of Pakistan’s airspace would be met with force. “We remain resolute. Any aircraft crossing into our skies will be engaged without hesitation,” he asserted.
