Archive · 20 Aug 2026
China, Türkiye Military Airlift to Pakistan Raises Defence Questions
Reports say large military transport planes from China and Türkiye flew to Pakistan several times over about 60 hours.
The planes were seen at two Pakistani airbases.
A security source said they may have carried drones and other military supplies.
However, nobody has independently confirmed what was inside the planes.
Pakistan already works closely with China and Türkiye on military technology.
The reported flights happened shortly after the three countries signed a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia.
India is watching the activity closely because it says China and Türkiye supported Pakistan during a recent conflict.
An Indian defence official disagreed with another official about whether China gave Pakistan real-time targeting information.
Heavy Chinese and Turkish military transport aircraft reportedly made repeated trips to Pakistani airbases over about 60 hours.
A security source claimed the flights carried drones and other military equipment, but the alleged cargo was not independently verified.
The reported activity involved Pakistan’s Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi and Masroor airbase in Karachi.
The airlift comes as Pakistan expands defence cooperation with China and Türkiye, including work on drones, aerospace systems and the KAAN fighter programme.
India has assessed that China and Türkiye supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, although India’s defence chief said there was no proof of real-time Chinese targeting assistance.
- Who
- Pakistan, China and Türkiye are involved in the reported military air activity; India has been monitoring and assessing the cooperation.
- What
- Chinese and Turkish military transport aircraft reportedly made repeated flights to Pakistani airbases, possibly carrying defence equipment.
- When
- The flights reportedly occurred over approximately 60 hours; the article also links them to developments after the May 7–10 hostilities and the August 7 defence agreement.
- Where
- Pakistan’s Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi and Masroor airbase in Karachi.
- Why
- The activity may be connected to Pakistan’s efforts to receive or replenish military equipment and deepen defence ties with China and Türkiye, although the purpose and cargo remain unconfirmed.
Claims and Indian Assessments
Caveats and Alternative Assessments
Purpose of the airlift
Claims and Indian Assessments
A senior security source said the repeated flights were being used to move drones and other military equipment to Pakistan.
Caveats and Alternative Assessments
The aircraft movements and alleged cargo have not been independently verified, so the flights could not be conclusively linked to a defence transfer.
Chinese support during the conflict
Claims and Indian Assessments
Indian Army deputy chief Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh said China provided extensive assistance, including what he described as live satellite inputs, and that Pakistan used Chinese-origin weapons systems.
Caveats and Alternative Assessments
India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said there was no proof that Beijing provided real-time targeting assistance, though Pakistan may have used Chinese commercial satellite imagery.
Nature of the trilateral defence agreement
Claims and Indian Assessments
The reported airlift has drawn scrutiny because it followed the Pakistan-Türkiye-Saudi Arabia defence agreement and involved two of Pakistan’s key military partners.
Caveats and Alternative Assessments
Officials described the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement as defensive and said it was not directed against any specific country.
- Reported duration
- Approximately 60 hours of concentrated military air activity.
- Reported aircraft
- Heavy military transport aircraft from China and Türkiye.
- Pakistani locations
- Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi and Masroor airbase in Karachi.
- Alleged cargo
- Drones and other defence-related matériel, according to a security source; this was not independently verified.
- Defence agreement
- Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7.
- KAAN programme
- Türkiye said nearly 200 Pakistani engineers and officials were involved in developing its KAAN fifth-generation fighter programme.
- Indian assessment
- India said Pakistan received substantial Chinese and Turkish support during Operation Sindoor.