US report backs Pakistan's military edge over India, says PM Shehbaz Sharif

A United States congressional report released on Thursday confirmed that Pakistan’s air force and army achieved a decisive advantage over India during the four‑day conflict that erupted in May. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the findings “validate the strength of Pakistan’s military” and described the report as a formal endorsement of the country’s battlefield performance.

The report, submitted to the U.S. Congress by the U.S.‑China Economic and Security Review Commission, praised Pakistan’s use of Chinese‑made weapons to down seven Indian fighter jets, including French‑made Rafales. It highlighted the deployment of the HQ‑9 air‑defence system, PL‑15 air‑to‑air missiles, and J‑10C fighter aircraft in active combat for the first time. The commission noted that Pakistan’s success has become a “selling point” for China’s defense sales, which recently included offers for 40 J‑35 fifth‑generation fighters, KJ‑500 surveillance aircraft and ballistic‑missile‑defense systems.

Shehbaz Sharif delivered the remarks at the foundation‑laying ceremony for a new Danish School in Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He said the U.S. report “stamped” Pakistan’s stance on the May conflict and that India had been “stung” by Pakistan’s armed forces. Sharif added that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s public praise of Pakistan further underscored the country’s military success.

The May clashes began after India launched missile strikes inside Pakistan on the night of May 5‑6, targeting what New Delhi said were terrorist positions in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir. The strikes killed civilians and security personnel and triggered a retaliatory response from Pakistan. The Pakistani Armed Forces launched “Operation Bunyan‑um‑Marsoos,” striking over 20 Indian military sites across multiple regions. The Pakistan Air Force used JF‑17 Thunder jets to destroy an Indian S‑400 air‑defence site in Adampur with hypersonic missiles and to shoot down dozens of Indian drones.

The conflict ended on May 10 when the United States brokered a ceasefire agreement. The U.S. report noted that both sides had struck deeper into each other’s territories than at any point in the past 50 years, underscoring the intensity of the confrontation.

Beyond the military discussion, Sharif highlighted the expansion of Danish Schools across Pakistan. He said the Bagh campus would open on March 23, 2026, and that a new school would soon be approved for Forward Kahuta. The schools provide free education, accommodation, uniforms and merit‑based support, and have already expanded from Punjab to other provinces.

The report’s findings are seen by Pakistani officials as a boost to national morale and a signal to international partners that Pakistan’s defense capabilities are on par with those of its regional rival. Analysts say the emphasis on Chinese weapons also reflects a growing defense partnership between Islamabad and Beijing, which has been solidifying in recent years.

While the U.S. report confirms Pakistan’s military edge, it also underscores the broader geopolitical dynamics at play. The conflict has drawn attention to the security implications of U.S. policy in South Asia, the role of Chinese defense exports, and the continuing volatility of the India‑Pakistan frontier.

The Danish School initiative, meanwhile, represents a domestic effort to improve educational opportunities in conflict‑affected areas, including AJK, and to foster long‑term stability through investment in human capital.

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