In retaliation to India’s “Operation Sindoor,” launched inside Pakistan on May 10, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) proudly downed six Indian fighter jets in Kashmir and other regions, including the cutting-edge 4.5th-generation Rafale, using Chinese 5th-generation JF-17 Thunder and J-10C fighter jets.
The demonstrated superiority of Chinese aircraft and the skill of Pakistani pilots could have devastated India had Prime Minister Narendra Modi not pleaded with US President Donald Trump for in-tervention and a ceasefire.
In response to Indian attack, “Operation Bunyan al-Marsus” sent shockwaves through both military and financial circles in India when PAF destroyed six manned aircraft and 84 quadcopters and surveillance drones including Israeli-made Heron UAV be-ing used for reconnaissance and potential targeting.
The downed six Indian fighter aircrafts include three Rafale fighter jets, one Sukhoi Su-30, one MiG-29 and one Mi-rage 2000.
Besides confirmed six downed Indian Air Force fighter jets one Japanese fighter jet is also claimed to be downed by PAF pilot marking total number as seven.
Rafale fighter jets being used by NATO are widely graded as one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world.
Because of stunning performance of Chinese fighter jets the surge in Chengdu Air-craft Corporation’s shares, which increased by 20.20 % , reflects the growing global recognition of Chinese-made fighter jets in the wake of the Pakistan Air Force’s very impressive counteraction.
On the other hand, Rafale fame Dassault Aviation Company lost its shares by 6.2 %.
The stock market witnessed a sharp spike in the shares of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the Chinese manufacturer of JF-17 Thunder and J-10C fighter jets, following a decisive military response by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) against Indian aerial aggression.
This significant uptick came after the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched airstrike targeting six different sites inside Pakistan, resulting in 26 deaths and 46 injuries, including attacks on mosques.
The IAF’s air raid added another layer of tension to the ongoing conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors – Pakistan and India.
Pakistan Air Force’s torrent attack marked a significant blow to India’s fake air superiority, which had been bolstered by the recent acquisition of Rafale jets from France.
The loss of Indian high-tech jets has sent ripples through international defence mar-kets.
Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, known for producing the JF-17 Thunder—one of Pakistan’s primary combat aircraft—and the J-10C, has experienced a remarkable rise in its stock price.
The surge is being attributed to the increased confidence in Chinese-made aircraft, particularly following the success of the JF-17 Thunder, which played a central role in the Pakistan Air Force’s swift retaliation.
In stark contrast, shares of Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of the Rafale jets, have taken a sharp downturn.
The French company’s stocks plummeted signifi-cantly on the Paris-based Varpi stock market, reflecting market concerns over the poor performance of the Rafale aircraft in the ongoing conflict.
The loss of three Ra-fales has raised very serious questions about the capabilities of these advanced jets and Indian pilots which were meant to enhance India’s aerial defence capabilities.
India had invested billions of dollars into acquiring the Rafale jets, considering them a game-changer for their Air Force.
The recent defeat at the hands of the PAF has raised doubts about Rafale’s effectiveness in combat situations, particularly against well-coordinated air operation executed by Pakistan.
Modi’s nonsense handling to the Pahalgam terrorism incident, Pakistan’s calculated countermeasures and the international community’s response to the brewing crisis, resulted in a devastating escalation of the conflict.
The war waged under the nuclear threshold was fraught with untold gambles.
The crisis between India and Pakistan was an upshot of the continuation of India’s state brutality in Indian-occupied Kashmir, where 26 men were murdered by terrorists at Pahalgam tourist site last month.
India claimed without presenting any (credible) evidence that there were Pakistani elements linked to the attack.
Pakistan denied the allegation and offered cooperation for an independent investigation.
India conducted air-to-surface missile strikes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the provinces of Punjab and Sindh.
In response, Pakistan was compelled to act decisively to deter further aggression.
Any kinetic action by India risks triggering a strong and calculated retaliation.
Pakistan’s deterrence posture rests on clearly demonstrated war-fighting capability—both conventional and nuclear—ensuring that hostile provocations are met with credible and resolute force.
The ramifications of recent India Pakistan tension could have been a further escala-tion of the conflict and may have led to the deterioration of regional stability in the region.
India has twice employed its air force to conduct surgical strikes in Pakistan’s terri-tory- in 2019 and 2025.
During both ventures, India exposed the limits of its air force vis a vis Pakistan’s air capabilities.
India’s most recent strikes were different from earlier instances, because they violated the international border and struck inside Pakistan.
The befitting response of Pakistan was imperative for the credibility of the entire Pakistani deterrence strategy so that India does not get wrong message from Pakistan’s patience.
Pakistan’s retaliation was too imperative to axe Modi’s new normal in bilateral relations.
To teach lesson to India, Pakistani pilots stunned and smashed Indian Air Force (IAF) with 5th generation JF-17 Thunder and J-10 C.
—The writer is author of several books based in UK. (naveedamankhan@hotmail.com)
