The deputy chief of the Indian Army, Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, has said what had been known all along but not presented in the manner it should have. He stated, while addressing an event organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, that India was battling two, if not three, adversaries during Operation Sindoor. He added that Pakistan was the face with China and Turkey providing vital support from the background.

The CDS did try to do damage control by saying, ‘How much of State support (from China) is very difficult to define,’ however, the facts are well known. China historically hesitates to enter into a conflict unless it is 100 per cent certain of victory. It is aware that a long-drawn conflict as in Ukraine, tactical defeat or even a stalemate would break the carefully built myth of the ‘invincible’ PLA and threaten the authority of its ruling dispensation. Their national public fears body bags. Hence, Beijing continues to threaten Taiwan, unwilling to risk an operation, preferring hybrid warfare. Powerful nations like China exploit proxies to push their agenda. Indian capability and infrastructure development was aimed at countering the Chinese.

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This had to change as India was narrowing the tactical and infrastructure gap. The best manner was to make India look westwards, splitting resources and funds. China also needed its military products to be tested in controlled military operations. What better guinea pig than Pakistan? China and Pakistan are aware that any terrorist incident with high casualties in Kashmir would invite a military backlash. This is essential for the survival of the Modi government, which had been broadcasting a policy of ‘Ghar mein ghus kar maarenge.’

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For Pakistan, dependent on China for financial survival and military hardware, the........

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