KATHMANDU: The India-Pakistan tension is gradually subsiding with both countries agreeing to a ceasefire. Although both sides have accused each other of breaking the ceasefire, they are sticking to it.
After India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam of Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, Pakistan responded with aerial raids. Both countries fired missiles and drones and also activated their air defense systems.
The aerial warfare, involving advanced fighter jets and high-tech missile systems, was observed closely by many countries. It was seen as an important case study in modern air combat.
According to Reuters, Pakistani J-10 fighter jets, supplied by China, are believed to have downed at least two Indian military aircraft, including one French-made Rafale. India, however, has denied Pakistan’s claims that its aircraft were brought down by the Pakistani military.
For the US military, the incident was a rare opportunity to evaluate China’s growing defense capabilities, particularly the performance of its PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile.
While both India and Pakistan have been involved in a series of wars, the recent tension was remarkable for the use of sophisticated military hardware and the geopolitical implications surrounding it.
For military observers, the focus now shifts to how the aircraft and missiles performed in a real-time scenario. Comparisons are being drawn between China’s PL-15 missile and Europe’s Meteor missile—both considered among the world’s most advanced.
