US Panel Claims Pakistan Held Advantage in May Conflict; Terms Pahalgam Attack an ‘Insurgent Strike’

A new report by the US–China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) has sparked controversy by claiming Pakistan gained a military edge over India during the four-day conflict in May 2025, following the Pahalgam attack. The report also characterises the April 22 Pahalgam incident—where 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed—as an “insurgent attack,” contradicting India’s stand that it was a terror strike orchestrated from Pakistan.

According to the report, Pakistan’s performance in the brief conflict “showcased Chinese weaponry,” while China used the crisis to test and promote its military systems. It also alleges that Beijing ran a coordinated disinformation campaign using fake accounts and AI-generated visuals to undermine France’s Rafale jets and promote its own J-35 fighters.

India had launched Operation Sindoor—precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stated that India demonstrated decisive military superiority and forced Pakistan into a ceasefire within hours.

The USCC, however, frames the episode as a clash “triggered by India’s response to a deadly insurgent attack” and highlights Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese weapons and intelligence. It adds that Chinese embassies later celebrated the performance of their systems in the conflict to boost global defence sales.

The report’s release comes as US President Donald Trump continues to claim credit for brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan—remarks India has publicly rejected.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticised the USCC’s findings as “astonishing,” calling the description of the Pahalgam terror attack an “insurgent attack” and the mention of Pakistan’s “military success” a serious diplomatic setback. He urged the External Affairs Ministry to issue a strong protest.

The USCC, a bipartisan body created by the US Congress in 2000, submits annual reports assessing the economic and security implications of China’s global activities.