New Delhi: “Not familiar with the matter”, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday when asked if Chinese jets were used by Pakistan after India struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with missiles on Wednesday.
The reaction came from Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian while speaking at a press briefing in Beijing. China’s statement is being seen as an embarrassment for Pakistan. Islamabad had claimed that Chinese fighter jets were used during its response to Indian military strikes. Pakistan had also said that China had been entirely briefed about its actions.
Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign minister, had told Parliament that Chinese J-10C jets were used in shooting down five Indian fighter jets along the border, including French-made Rafale jets, the Associated Press of Pakistan news service quoted him as saying. The Indian government hasn’t officially confirmed the development.
China reiterates call to ease tensions
On Thursday, China once again urged India and Pakistan do de-escalate the situation. When asked whether Pakistan had confirmed the use of the Chinese-made jets, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian remarked, “I am not familiar with the matter you mentioned.”
China is an important ally of Pakistan and its biggest arms supplier, accounting for almost 82% of Pakistan’s weapons imports between 2019 and 2023, as per data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
India’s missile strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK coincided with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s scheduled departure for a four-day visit to Russia on Wednesday, where he is set to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II.
Earlier on May 1, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not visit Moscow to attend Russia’s Victory Day Parade on May 9. The decision was taken amid high tension with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack.
