As tensions with India escalate, Pakistan and China appear to be aligned in their strategic posture. In a bold show of strength, the Pakistan Air Force has released images showcasing its modernized weaponry, just days after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
The images revealed a JF-17C fighter jet equipped with the advanced Chinese ‘PL-15’ air-to-air missile, a long-range weapon with a strike capability of 200 to 300 kilometers. According to Pakistani media reports, China has supplied Pakistan with 100 such missiles, signaling deeper military collaboration between the two countries. The media further suggested that the public release of these images is a deliberate attempt to send a message to India and project Pakistan’s military confidence — that “India cannot act against us.”
Reports also indicate that, amid the ongoing diplomatic fallout from the Pahalgam incident, Turkey has transported a cache of military supplies to Pakistan, including C-130 Hercules transport aircraft loaded with firecrackers, weapon systems, drones, electronic warfare equipment, and anti-tank missiles.
With border tensions between India and Pakistan growing once again, analysts warn that such visible militarization could further destabilize regional peace. The timing and optics of China’s missile delivery and Pakistan’s response raise concerns of an orchestrated power projection in South Asia.
