China refutes Indian allegation of military support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor

China’s Foreign Ministry on July 8 denied India’s claim that it provided real-time intelligence ("live inputs") to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, calling the allegations baseless and stating that its defense ties with Pakistan are traditional, not aimed at third parties (“did not target any third party ... cooperation ... traditional friendship”).

Spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized, “I am not sure how that allegation came about... Defence and security cooperation is part of normal cooperation between the two countries."

She added that China encourages India and Pakistan to resolve differences via dialogue.

The response came after Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt Gen Rahul R Singh had said India faced two adversaries—Pakistan and China—during the four-day conflict, alleging China provided satellite surveillance on Indian troop deployments to Pakistan amidst DGMO-level talks.

According to Singh, Pakistan was the “front face,” while China and Turkey supported from behind, with China assisting Pakistan in testing its military hardware in what he described as a “live lab.” He urged India to strengthen air defence systems in response.

Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir also strongly rebutted the Indian claims as “factually incorrect,” terming them a “chronic reluctance to acknowledge indigenous capability.”

Munir added that suggesting external assistance reflected “camp politics” and asserted Pakistan’s ability to handle threats independently .

The diplomatic exchange follows regional tensions since Operation Sindoor, which was launched by India in May 2025 in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed over 30 Indian soldiers on April 22.

The operation involved coordinated drone strikes, precision air raids, and special forces missions targeting terror camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Indian officials described it as the most expansive cross-border counter-terror operation in recent years.