Thats the reason one should have equal technical education in both theory and in practical. Their engineers are trained in American engineering specs lyk us (iso) while they are using sukhois as their main fighter aircrafts. but its highly doubtful that pak played any role in j-10/11.. as far as reverse technology of f-16 is concerned, its 100% accurate, but if india goes for an agreement wid russia regarding su-35 then pak will be in desperate need of j-20 or f-22 because it will completely shift the balance of power..
There are two aspect of what you wrote;
1- Technical education in both theory and practice. It boils down to one simple fact, Pakistans Engineering and Research base. Unless there is a dramatic shift in its Research and Engineering base, practical participation is difficult.
2- Pakistanis due to this fact take full part in technical discussions on its design, manoeuvrability, avionics etc, but practically they can not participate, China has far better technical and engineering base.
3- It is like two partners, one good in its outlook to the technology due to its access to some limited western technologies, and other good in Engineering base and Russian Technologies.
4- China started to move forward in airframe design, electronics and avionics, because of Pakistani co-operation. Pakistani may not offer much technical help hindered due to their limited Engineering base, but they offered lots of know how and information on the technical aspect of fighter jets and avionics. Pakistan has played a crucial part in the production of Chinese AWACS, recently acquired by Pakistan Air Force.
Compare this with India, they boost a lot about their Engineering and manufacturing base, but they are so much behind technical application when it comes to cutting edge technologies that the results are always disappointing.
The embarrassments for Indian are countless, from fiasco in LCA to failed tests in missile technologies, including Brhamos, Arujun tank and so on.
Most of the projects were on borrowed technologies, primarily Russians, but it does not stop Indian boosting of indigenous production. Everyone with the knowledge knows the reality of Indian indigenous weapons.
Comparing to Indian waste of money for decades, Pakistanis have worked intelligently in their pursued of achieving reasonable independence in weapons with limited financial resources they have. Pakistan now produce, tanks, and other arms which goes a long way to have self reliance. JF17 adds another dimension to have domestically produced workhorse. Adding J10 and J11 at later dates would enhance their capabilities to no end. Hopefully with expanding Engineering base and acquired know how, Pakistan will produce J10 and J11 locally. At least Pakistan can not be hamstrung if USA pulls the scam of withdrawing its supply of parts and trade in arms with Pakistan due to sanctions.
Your concerns about SU35 are over stated, it is a better version of SU27, it was formerly known as SU27M. It closely resembles 30MKI which India already posses. It is classified as 4++ generation fighter by Sukhoi and not 5th Generation.
Pakistan shouldnt be too much worried about SU35, but concern should be PAKFA T50, a fifth generation aircraft, if it ever pulled off. Indian also boost wrongly about their participation in the production of PAKFA. Sukhoi director Mikhail Pogosyan said that Indian contribution would be in the form of joint work under the current agreement rather than as a joint venture. In plain English, India are suppose to provide the funding and get the fighters, like they do at the moment, and later on by having an assembly plant set up by Russians in India.
PAKFA T50 is comparable to F22 Raptor, apart from having 360 degree radar coverage it does not have any other significant advantage over F22 Raptor. It is estimated to cost $100 million per unit, but the cost may escalate, like it did for F22 which is over $356 million per unit. After all we know what happened to aircraft carrier Gorkov India ordered.
F22 Raptors production is been halted by USA. It is claimed that every hour of flight time by F22, it needs 30 hours of the maintenance. Jury is still out on PAKFA 50, its capabilities and cost when the project is completed, if it is completed.