India-Pakistan clash: ‘far from neutral’ Russia and China step in with arms

The arms provided by Russia to India and China to Pakistan come even as Moscow and Beijing want tensions in South Asia to ease, analysts say

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A building destroyed in an Indian missile strike in Muridke, a town near Lahore, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 4:35pm, 8 May 2025Updated: 4:55pm, 8 May 2025

Recent arms shipments from Russia to India and China to Pakistan in the days leading to renewed cross-border hostilities between the two South Asian rivals have prompted scrutiny of whether Moscow and Beijing are neutral actors in the conflict.

India has received a consignment of Igla-S air defence missiles from Russia, according to reports by Indian media outlets, following the April 22 militant attack near Pahalgam in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 non-Muslim tourists.

Capable of intercepting low-flying aircraft and drones, the missiles were reportedly deployed to forward border areas and believed to have been procured under New Delhi’s emergency powers.

The US$3 million Igla-S man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) supplied by Russia are expected to strengthen India’s tactical air defence capabilities, particularly along the disputed border in Jammu and Kashmir.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has offered to help resolve tensions between Pakistan and India over Kashmir, according to the Russian foreign ministry.

The developments come amid ongoing sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.