*BEIJING – Chinese Analyst Dismisses Indian Air Chief’s Claims of DowningPakistani Jets as “Self-Amusement”*
Professor Cheng Xizhong, a Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Instituteand China’s former defence attaché in South Asia, has publicly challengedrecent statements made by Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Marshal Amar PreetSingh. The professor labelled Singh’s claims as “self-amusement” andlacking credibility, adding fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding themilitary events of Operation Sindoor.
Marshal Singh had earlier stated that the IAF successfully shot down fivePakistani fighter jets and one large aircraft during Operation Sindoor – amilitary confrontation between India and Pakistan that took place in earlyMay. However, these assertions have come under scrutiny, with criticspointing out the absence of any verifiable evidence supporting India’sversion of events.
Professor Cheng emphasized that India has not produced any physical proofor technical data to substantiate its claims. “There are no photographs ofwreckage, no radar tracking data, and no satellite imagery provided toconfirm such a significant military success,” he stated. He added thatmultiple international observers have also questioned India’s narrative.
In contrast, Pakistan had swiftly released various pieces of evidenceduring the conflict, including a technical report presented tointernational media. According to Cheng, this proactive transparency fromIslamabad stands in stark contrast to New Delhi’s silence on verificationmaterials.
The Chinese military expert also cited statements from internationalleaders, Indian political figures, and foreign intelligence agencies, whichhe claimed align more closely with Pakistan’s account of events. Heasserted that multiple Indian aircraft were lost during the conflict andthat Pakistani forces succeeded in destroying several Indian defensepositions, including highly valued S-400 air defense systems.
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Professor Cheng’s remarks further highlighted the growing skepticismsurrounding India’s claims. He suggested that without credible evidence,such assertions risk damaging India’s international credibility.
As of now, Indian defense authorities have not issued any official responseto Professor Cheng’s statements or the questions raised regarding OperationSindoor.
The dispute over the true outcome of the military engagement continues tospark controversy in regional and international circles, raising concernsabout transparency, propaganda, and geopolitical posturing in South Asia.