The cloak and dagger syndrome? Pakistan by the way knew who they should fall back upon! There were many players by the way! But the Indian trio prevailed (Army, Airforce and Navy)! We would say that we were facing not three but four enemies!
-The fourth none mentions and it is terror which is all sponsored by Pakistan!
-International geo-politics is a different ball game and it is not the factor of trade that matters, it is the defense first!
-Op Sindoor indeed was a psychological boost for the Indian Armed forces but still there were several lessons to be drawn out as far as orders go!
-The term “cloak and dagger” can refer to two distinct concepts: a style of combat involving a cloak and dagger, and a figurative description of a situation or activity that is secretive and mysterious, often involving espionage or intrigue. In a medical context, “cloak and dagger” was used to describe a specific case of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) triggered by repeated intravenous injections of fecal microbes in a patient with Munchhausen syndrome, highlighting the hidden or disguised nature of the underlying psychiatric disease.
-And Pakistan has this disease and as matter of fact so does Turkey and China! Why so we will tell you and also as to why this disease became a sort of an epidemic in Operation Sindoor!
-Here’s a breakdown of the different meanings:
-Combat Style: Historically, a cloak and dagger were used in combat as a defensive and offensive combination. The cloak could be used to obscure the dagger’s presence, provide minor protection, restrict an opponent’s weapon, or act as a distraction.
-Figurative Meaning: “Cloak and dagger” is often used to describe something that is secret, mysterious, or conspiratorial, especially in the context of espionage or secret operations. It can also be used to describe situations that are unnecessarily secretive, where open discussion would be more appropriate.
-But in tensions that are prevailing on the International border this specter can be seen wholesomely!
-China is treating its ties with Pakistan as an opportunity for experimentation, including the deployment of advanced systems in real-world conflict scenarios.
-Pakistan is now set to induct 40 Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters from China!
-An overwhelming 81 per cent of Pakistan’s military hardware is of Chinese origin, with China using the country like a “live lab” to test its military tech, the army said.
-Army’s Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance), Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh provided a breakdown of the recent cross-border escalation with Pakistan.
-Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. India responded with Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror-related sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian response resulted in the deaths of over 100 terrorists associated with groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
-“There are a few lessons from Operation Sindoor. The strategic messaging by leadership was unambiguous. There is no scope of absorbing the pain the way we did a few years ago.
-The planning and selection of targets was based on a lot of data that was collected using technology and human intelligence.
– So a total of 21 targets were actually identified, out of which nine targets we thought would be prudent to engage. It was only the final day or the final hour that the decision was taken that these nine targets would be engaged,” Lt Gen Singh said.
-According to Lt Gen Singh, the China-Pakistan defence relationship has evolved beyond conventional arms transfers amid concerns that China is treating its close ties with Pakistan as an opportunity for experimentation, including the deployment of advanced platforms and surveillance systems in real-world conflict scenarios.
-“We had one border and two adversaries, actually three. Pakistan was in the front. China was providing all possible support. 81 per cent of the military hardware with Pakistan is Chinese.
– China is able to test its weapons against other weapons, so it’s like a live lab available to them. Turkey also played an important role in providing the type of support it did. When DGMO-level talks were on, Pakistan had the live updates of our important vectors, from China. We need a robust air defence system,” he said.
-According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China has sold arms worth $8.2 billion to Pakistan since 2015.
-Between 2020 and 2024, China ranked as the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter. Nearly two-thirds or 63 per cent of these exports went to Pakistan, making Islamabad China’s biggest weapons client.
-This supply chain includes over half of Pakistan’s fighter fleet, dominated by the JF-17 Thunder co-developed with China, and the more advanced J-10C multirole fighter aircraft. Reports suggest that Pakistan is now set to induct 40 Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters from China, placing it among a limited group of nations with stealth combat capability.
-A recent report by the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for 2025 states that India perceives China as its “primary adversary,” while Pakistan is seen as more of an “ancillary security problem to be managed.”
-China and Pakistan share a strong strategic and economic partnership, while Pakistan also maintains a relationship with the United States. This creates a complex dynamic where Pakistan navigates its ties with both major powers, particularly amidst the US-China rivalry.
-China-Pakistan Relations: China is Pakistan’s closest strategic partner, providing significant economic and military support.
-Economic Corridor: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major infrastructure project, has deepened economic ties.
-Military Cooperation: Pakistan relies heavily on China for weaponry and military technology.
-Counterbalance to India: The relationship is also viewed as a counterbalance to India, with both countries sharing concerns about New Delhi’s regional influence.
-Pakistan-US Relations: The US has been a key partner for Pakistan, particularly during the Cold War and the “War on Terror”.
-Tensions: Recent years have seen some tensions, including US criticism of China’s growing influence in Pakistan and concerns about Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan.
-Balancing Act: Pakistan seeks to maintain a relationship with both the US and China, a balancing act that presents challenges.
-US Assistance: The US continues to offer Pakistan economic and security assistance, including support for counterterrorism efforts and democratic institutions.
-Navigating the Rivalry: Pakistan faces a dilemma as it tries to manage its relationships with both China and the US, especially as the US-China rivalry intensifies.
-Seeking Autonomy: Pakistan aims to maintain its own strategic autonomy while benefiting from its relationships with both powers.
-Areas of Cooperation: There are areas where the US and Pakistan can cooperate, such as climate change, critical minerals, and emerging technologies.
-Potential for Conflict: The US-China rivalry could create tensions in the region, potentially impacting Pakistan’s security and economic interests.
-Naming Pakistan, China and Turkey as the “three adversaries” India faced on its “one border” in the north, Lt Gen Singh said ! Speaking at the ‘New Age Military Technologies’ event organised by the FICCI, he said Turkey also “played a very important role in providing support” to Pakistan with its supply of the Bayraktar unmanned combat aerial vehicle, “numerous other drones” and “trained individuals”.
-“China, of course, the good old dictum… killed by a borrowed knife… he would rather use the neighbour to cause pain than get involved in the mud-slinging match on the northern borders,” he said.
-The next lesson, he said, is the importance of C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and civil-military fusion, and there is still a lot to be done in this domain.
-“When the DGMO-level talks were going on, Pakistan was mentioning that we know that your such and such vector is primed and is ready for action. I would request you to perhaps, you know, pull it back. So, he was getting live inputs as far as from China,” he said, adding that is one area where India needs to move fast and take appropriate action.
-Speaking on electronic warfare and the need for a robust air defence system, Lt Gen Singh underlined the need to protect India’s population centres. While the population centres were not addressed during Operation Sindoor, there is a need to be prepared for that.
-“For that, more and more air defence, more and more counter rockets, artillery, and drone sort of systems have to be prepared for which we have to move very, very fast,” he said.
-He said while indigenous systems performed well, some did not. “It is a cat-and-mouse game, we need to be at it,” he said.
-He said India does not have the luxury like Israel, which has deployed its Iron Dome and several other air defence systems. “We do not have the luxury, because the country is vast, and such things cost a lot of money,” he said.
“So, a lot of naysayers say, why did we stop now? So, war is easy to initiate, but it’s very difficult to control. A very masterly stroke that was played to stop the war at an appropriate time.”
-But still the Indian concerns are different! There is still the fourth enemy!
-A recent input suggested the following:
-And it said Pakistan rebuilding terror camps, launchpads destroyed in Op Sindoor!
-Pakistan, in coordination with its Army, ISI, and government agencies, is reportedly rebuilding and upgrading terrorist launchpads and camps destroyed during India’s Operation Sindoor.
_Pakistan is actively working to re-establish terrorist launchpads and training camps that were destroyed by the Indian Army during Operation Sindoor in May, launched in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, according to intelligence sources.
-Intelligence agencies indicate that Pakistani terror organisations, in collaboration with ISI, are attempting to construct high-tech, smaller terror camps in dense forests near the Line of Control (LoC). This strategy is aimed at evading surveillance and airstrikes, according to sources .
-The camps currently being rebuilt are located in areas such as Luni, Putwal, Taipu Post, Jamila Post, Umranwali, Chaprar, Forward Kahuta, Chota Chak, and Janglora. These camps are reportedly being equipped with advanced technologies designed to counter thermal imagers, foliage-penetrating radar, and satellite surveillance.
-Sources further reveal that the Pakistani Army and ISI are also redeveloping 13 launching pads in PoK, including areas such as Kel, Shardi, Dudhniyal, Athmuqam, Jura, Leepa Valley, Pachiban Chaman, Tandpani, Naiyali, Jankot, Chakoti, Nikail, and Forward Kahuta.
-In addition, four terror launchpads on the International Border, dismantled during Operation Sindoor, are also being reactivated. These include regular Pakistan Rangers posts.
-The Pakistani spy agency is adopting a new strategy of splitting larger camps into smaller ones to reduce the concentration of terrorists in a single location, thereby minimising potential damage in case of a strike.
-Each mini-camp is expected to have its own perimeter security, monitored by specially trained Pakistani Army personnel. These guards will be equipped with thermal sensors, low-frequency radar systems, and anti-drone technologies, sources added.
-Indian intelligence agencies have also intercepted communications indicating a recent high-level meeting in Bahawalpur. The meeting was reportedly attended by senior commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, and The Resistance Front (TRF), along with ISI officials.
-During the meeting, the ISI reportedly pledged significant funding and manpower to redevelop the destroyed terror infrastructure. As a result, repairs are underway at several locations, and efforts are being made to establish new, more secure facilities, the sources said.
This culminates our exercise for today but tomorrow does arrive if it comes!
