PDB Afternoon Bulletin | May 19th, 2025: How China Helped Pakistan Shoot Down Indian Jets & IDF Begins Massive Ground Offensive In Gaza

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First, an update on the current and admittedly somewhat fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, as we learn that China played a direct role in helping the Pakistani military shoot down Indian fighter jets during the brief clash over Kashmir earlier this month. We'll discuss the implications for regional stability.

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Later in the show, Israel begins large-scale ground operations against the Gaza Strip as part of a major new offensive that aims to dismantle Hamas's remaining military capabilities and take full control of the battered enclave. But first, today's afternoon spotlight.

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Amid the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, we're now learning that China played a direct role in assisting Islamabad in the shooting down of Indian fighter jets earlier this month, a revelation that risks deepening tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

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According to Indian defense officials, Chinese military advisers assisted Pakistan in repositioning its radar systems and satellite coverage just days before the aerial clash, enabling Islamabad to track Indian aircraft, weaponry, and troop movements in real time. The collaboration reportedly followed the 22 April terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 tourists dead.

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An assault New Delhi insists was a work of Islamabad-backed Islamic terrorists. Pakistan, of course, continues to deny any involvement or responsibility.

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Ashok Kumar, director general of the Center for Joint Warfare Studies in New Delhi, that's a think tank under India's Ministry of Defense, told reporters that Chinese personnel worked side by side with Pakistani forces to recalibrate the air defense systems and enhance surveillance capabilities ahead of the confrontation.

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Now, as we covered here on the PDB, India responded to the Kashmir attack with cross-border airstrikes on the 7th of May, targeting what it claimed were nine terrorist camps operating inside Pakistani territory. Islamabad countered with its own show of force, claiming it shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three French-made twin-engine fighters.

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India has yet to confirm or deny the alleged losses. Crucially, Pakistani forces utilized Chinese-made J-10C jets in the retaliatory strikes, also deploying the Beijing-developed PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, which had never been used in combat before. That detail has alarmed defense analysts across Asia, particularly in Taiwan, which could face similar tactics in future conflict.

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Adding to the intrigue, Pakistan's foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, told Parliament that a high-level Chinese diplomatic and military delegation, led by Beijing's ambassador, was already at the foreign ministry on the morning of the strikes. Dar said, "...we apprised them about all the developments taking place until that time, and they were very happy."

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Behind the scenes, analysts from the Center for Joint Warfare Studies believe Beijing may have used the skirmish to field test its defense tech under live combat conditions. Officially, India has not confirmed China's role, and Beijing, for its part, has issued no denial.

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As we noted last week, President Trump announced what he described as a, quote, immediate ceasefire on the 10th of May, following high-level engagement with both New Delhi and Islamabad. The truce has largely held so far, but analysts warn the region remains on edge after what many describe as the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear rivals in more than four decades.

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Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Minister Dar is currently in Beijing for a three-day visit, where he's expected to hold, quote, in-depth discussions with his Chinese counterpart on regional security and the broader bilateral relationship.

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As Pakistan and China tighten military and diplomatic ties, India faces a growing strategic challenge, grappling with Islamabad's cross-border militancy, but also Beijing's role as a silent power broker in South Asia. Now, the situation is a very interesting example of shifting alliances and geopolitical landscapes.

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The script has been flipped essentially over the past several years, with India, long an ally of Russia and the former Soviet Union, now aligning itself more closely with the US, while Pakistan, once a relatively close ally of the US, now building closer alliances with both Russia and China. Coming up next, Israel begins large-scale ground operations across the Gaza Strip. I'll be right back.