For the first time, India officially named China as a supplier of weapons used by Pakistan in recent air attacks.
During a press briefing, Indian Air Marshal A K Bharti said "You can see the pieces of it on the screen," while showcasing debris of the PL-15 long range missile that fell inside Indian territory, including a relatively intact rear section recovered from Hoshiarpur, Punjab.
These long-range missiles were used by Pakistan and intercepted by Indian forces. India also mentioned Turkish-made kamikaze drones being used by Pakistan.
The PL-15 missile, made by China’s AVIC, can target enemy aircraft from over 200 km. Its export version, PL-15E, is part of Pakistan's JF-17 and J-10CE fighter jets. These missiles are advanced and can fly faster than five times the speed of sound.
India's announcement comes soon after both countries agreed to a ceasefire. Earlier, India had only named Turkish drones. The Chinese missile fragments confirm Beijing's role in the conflict.
Meanwhile, China said it supports peace between India and Pakistan and opposes terrorism. However, China also helped weaken the UN statement on the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
This marks a shift in India’s strategy by publicly calling out China's support for Pakistan's military.
