‘Reflect on your reputation’: India’s sharp message to China over backing Pakistan during Op Sindoor

India on Tuesday sharpened its response on both China and Pakistan over reports of Beijing extending on-ground support to Islamabad during Operation Sindoor, with the Ministry of External Affairs saying countries backing efforts to 'protect terror infrastructure' must reflect on the impact such actions have on their global standing.

Responding to reports that China had admitted to supporting Pakistan during the operation launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the developments only reinforced what India had already assessed earlier about external backing for Pakistan during the conflict.

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“We have seen reports that corroborate what was known earlier,” Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing.

Reiterating New Delhi's stance, the MEA directly linked Operation Sindoor to India’s wider campaign against what it described as Pakistan-backed terror infrastructure.

'Nations must consider themselves responsible'

“Operation Sindoor was a precise, targeted, and calibrated response to the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam aimed at destroying state-sponsored terrorist infrastructure operating out of Pakistan and at its behest,” Jaiswal said.

“It is for nations that consider themselves responsible to reflect whether supporting attempts to protect terrorist infrastructure affects their reputation and standing,” he added.

The remarks mark one of India’s strongest public responses yet to reports suggesting Chinese operational or strategic assistance to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, which was launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed civilians earlier this year.

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While the MEA stopped short of directly accusing China of military involvement, the comments signalled New Delhi’s growing disdain over Beijing’s continued strategic alignment with Pakistan even amid counter-terror operations launched by India.

India has consistently maintained that Operation Sindoor targeted terror camps and infrastructure linked to groups operating from Pakistani territory, describing the strikes as “measured” and “non-escalatory”.