China Uses Pakistan As ‘Live Lab’ For Weapons Testing, Says Indian Army Deputy Chief

Deputy Army Chief Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh has raised serious concerns over China's strategic military partnership with Pakistan, stating that Pakistan is being used as a "live lab" by Beijing to test its advanced weapons and military platforms in real conflict scenarios.

Citing alarming statistics, Lt Gen Singh revealed that 81% of Pakistan's military inventory now consists of Chinese-made hardware, ranging from fighter aircraft to sophisticated weapon systems. He emphasized that China is exploiting its defense ties with Pakistan not just for arms sales, but to closely monitor and evaluate the battlefield performance of its technology.

Lt Gen Singh's remarks came in the context of Operation Sindoor, a recent conflict scenario during which China reportedly provided real-time intelligence to Pakistan regarding Indian troop movements and military deployments. At the same time, Turkey contributed by supplying Bayraktar UAVs, further boosting Pakistan's operational capabilities.

He explained that this direct pipeline of intelligence and tactical support allowed China to observe how its systems performed against Indian defenses in actual combat conditions-turning the situation into a live-fire testing ground for Chinese military innovation.

Key Points Highlighted by Lt Gen Singh:

• 81% of Pakistan's military arsenal is sourced from China, including critical air and missile systems.
• China leveraged the conflict to test its weapons in real-time operational settings.
• Real-time data and surveillance support from China gave Pakistan a tactical edge during Operation Sindoor.
• Turkey's contribution through drone supply added another layer of complexity to India's security concerns.

Lt Gen Singh stressed that this China-Pakistan-Turkey nexus represents a growing threat to India's strategic environment. He called for urgent enhancements in India's air defense systems and intelligence capabilities to counter these evolving challenges and to prevent future vulnerabilities from being exploited.