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Pakistan’s urgent bid to acquire advanced air defence systems from the United States, Germany, and other European nations has exposed a deep strategic vulnerability: the dramatic failure of Chinese-supplied hardware during India’s Operation Sindoor. Once a steadfast customer of Chinese military platforms, Pakistan is now pivoting to Western suppliers — a shift that underscores both a rupture in trust with Beijing and a less flattering reassessment of its capabilities.
HQ-9 Failure Unmasked by Indian Precision Strikes
In a blistering 22-minute operation on May 7, Indian forces launched over 400 precision-guided munitions from 80 aircraft — including the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile — targeting high-value sites across Pakistan. Despite the scale and sophistication of the assault, Pakistan’s Chinese-made HQ-9 air defence system failed to detect, engage, or intercept a single strike. The failure was total and exposed critical shortcomings in Pakistan’s defensive preparedness.
Shaken by the debacle, Islamabad is now actively pursuing Western systems with a proven track record in high-intensity combat zones — notably the US Patriot and Germany’s IRIS-T air defence platforms.
From Beijing to Berlin and Washington
Germany is reportedly nearing approval to export the IRIS-T SL system to Pakistan — a highly capable short- to medium-range platform developed by Diehl Defence. Credited with intercepting Russian P-800 Oniks missiles in Ukraine, the IRIS-T’s battlefield credibility stands in sharp contrast to the HQ-9’s underperformance.
Meanwhile, in Washington, a high-profile Pakistani delegation led by Musadik Malik and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has publicly lobbied for Patriot missile batteries and 4.5-generation fighter aircraft. Their appeal marks a remarkable admission of vulnerability.
“India came with 80 aircraft and 400 missiles… if we didn’t have some kind of air defence, we would have been reduced to rubble,” Malik admitted in a widely circulated video — a rare public acknowledgement of military helplessness.
A Crisis of Confidence in Chinese Arms
Islamabad’s outreach to the West has stunned defence analysts, given Pakistan’s decades-long military dependency on China, particularly amid Western export restrictions. The HQ-9 — once touted as the backbone of Pakistan’s air defence — was decisively outmatched in real combat, prompting an urgent rethink of strategic alignments.
Germany’s Dilemma: Islamabad or New Delhi?
Berlin’s possible arms deal with Pakistan comes at a sensitive juncture. Germany is also in negotiations with India for the Project 75(I) submarine programme — a multibillion-dollar initiative key to India’s maritime posture. Supplying Islamabad with advanced air defence systems could jeopardize Germany’s broader strategic partnership with India, a rising Indo-Pacific power and crucial economic partner.
A Strategic Setback for China, a Validation for India
For China, the aftermath of Operation Sindoor represents a major credibility blow: its flagship air defence export failed under pressure, costing it a loyal client’s confidence. For India, the outcome is a strategic validation. Not only did its forces execute a successful precision strike campaign, but the operation has also triggered a visible geopolitical shift — Pakistan, once China’s most ardent defence partner, is now seeking salvation from the West it long distrusted.
Huma Siddiqui
