Pak backs China's claim of playing a role in defusing tension during Operation Sindoor

Pakistan has backed China’s claim that Beijing played a key role in easing tensions with India during Operation Sindoor, describing the engagement as “diplomacy for peace” that helped prevent the conflict from escalating.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Chinese leadership remained in constant contact with Pakistan throughout the crisis from May 6 to May 10, and also reached out to Indian leadership. “These contacts, characterised by a very positive diplomatic exchange, contributed to bringing down temperatures and ensuring peace and security in the region,” he said, adding that China’s characterization of mediation was correct. Analysts say these back-channel communications helped create space for de-escalation and prevented misunderstandings from worsening the standoff.

China’s role went beyond direct diplomacy, providing Pakistan with a measure of international shielding. Its engagement helped Pakistan avoid isolation on the global stage during the four-day military escalation. Beijing’s positioning as a stabilizing force allowed Islamabad to frame the conflict within a broader context of regional peace, rather than facing unilateral criticism.

While China did not intervene militarily during the clashes, Pakistan’s operational reliance on Chinese-supplied military hardware was significant. Pakistani forces employed Chinese-origin aircraft, air defense systems, and surveillance technology during Operation Sindoor, reflecting a deep strategic and defense partnership. The use of these systems underscored the practical support that China provided indirectly during the confrontation.

Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The strikes targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, triggering four days of intense military clashes that ended on May 10 with an understanding to halt hostilities.

While India maintains that the situation was resolved solely through direct military-level talks and rejects any suggestion of third-party mediation, Pakistan emphasized China’s role as a stabilizing factor in both diplomatic and strategic terms. By publicly endorsing Beijing’s mediation claim, Islamabad reaffirmed the strength of the China-Pakistan partnership and highlighted Beijing’s growing influence in South Asian security affairs.